Investigating health information systems-induced errors

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatics
• Medical Error Analysis
• Systems Engineering

Background:

• Health Information Systems (HIS) are complex and can introduce medical errors.
• Understanding the root causes and classifications of HIS-induced errors is crucial for patient safety.
• Existing error evaluation models often focus on specific aspects, necessitating a more comprehensive approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review health information system (HIS)-induced errors and their management strategies.
• To explore classifications of medical errors within HIS contexts.
• To promote a socio-technical approach for evaluating and managing HIS-related medical errors.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature review on HIS-induced errors, focusing on issues, sources, management, and approaches.
• Critically reviewed selected models to identify dimensions of medical errors.
• Analyzed errors based on human, process, technology, and organizational factors.

Main Results:

• HIS-induced errors stem from a combination of human, process, technology, and organizational factors.
• Error classifications are diverse and often context-specific, complicating overall understanding.
• Latent factors like poor system design and inadequate training contribute significantly to medical errors.

Conclusions:

• HIS-induced errors are complex but can be understood through causal analysis.
• Preventive measures and effective management strategies are essential for minimizing medical errors.
• A socio-technical, multi-disciplinary approach is recommended for holistic evaluation and management of HIS-induced errors.