Clinical surveillance could help to improve safety

Using electronic health records for clinical surveillance could help hospitals prepare for a second wave of COVID-19 and improve safety overall, but less than a third of hospitals currently have a surveillance tool in place, according to one recent survey. Clinical surveillance can identify medication errors, other safety events and patients who require active interventions in real-time. Such systems can also detect unusual prescribing patterns and symptom trends to alert institutions about developing safety concerns. “Meaningful use” of electronic health data to improve the quality of care was a goal of the federal HITECH Act, but many smaller health facilities lack the resources to invest in their IT infrastructures. The authors of a recent study say safety net providers must remain current with advances in health IT to ensure patient safety and high-quality care. (PSQH story, 7/15/20)