Promoting patient safety and enabling evidence-based practice through informatics

The purposes of this article are to highlight the role of informatics in promoting patient safety and enabling evidence-based practice (EBP), 2 significant aspects for assuring healthcare quality; to delineate some challenges for the future; and to provide key recommendations for education, practice, policy, and research.

First, we describe the components of an informatics infrastructure for patient safety and evidence-based practice. Second, we address the role of informatics in 4 areas: 1) information access; 2) automated surveillance for real-time error detection and prevention; 3) communication among members of the healthcare team; and 4) standardization of practice patterns. Last, we delineate some future challenges for nursing and for informatics and provide key recommendations for education, practice, policy, and research.

The components of an informatics infrastructure are available and applications that bring together these components to promote patient safety and enable EBP have demonstrated positive or promising results.

Challenges must be addressed so that an informatics infrastructure and related applications that promote patient safety and enable EBP can be realized.