The Institute of Medicine (IOM) will conduct a 1-year study aimed at ensuring that health information technology (HIT) will achieve its full potential for improving patient safety in health care. The study will be carried out under a $989,000 contract announced by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), which is charged with coordinating federal efforts regarding HIT adoption and meaningful use.
The study will examine a comprehensive range of patient safety-related issues, including prevention of HIT-related errors and rapid reporting of any HIT-related patient safety issues. It will make recommendations concerning the potential effects of government policies and private sector actions in maximizing patient safety and avoiding medical errors through HIT. Highlights of the study will include:
Summary of existing knowledge of the effects of HIT on patient safety;
· Identifying approaches to promote the safety-enhancing features of HIT while protecting patients from any safety problems associated with HIT;
· Identifying approaches for preventing HIT-related patient safety problems before they occur;
· Identifying approaches for surveillance and reporting activities to bring about rapid detection and correction of patient safety problems;
· Addressing the potential roles of private sector entities such as accrediting and certification bodies as well as patient safety organizations and professional and trade associations; and
· Discussion of existing authorities and potential roles for key federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
More information about HIT and support for adoption and meaningful use can be found on the web at: www.healthit.hhs.gov.
