Connected Healthcare System Technology Interventions to Improve Patient Safety by Reducing Medical Errors: A...

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Patient Safety Research
• Digital Health Interventions

Background:

• Medication errors are a leading cause of death in the U.S., leading to significant clinical and financial consequences.
• Connected healthcare systems offer a potential solution to mitigate pharmaceutical errors and bolster patient safety.
• Existing literature needs systematic review to evaluate the efficacy of connected healthcare in reducing medication errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing literature on connected healthcare interventions aimed at improving patient safety and reducing medication errors.
• To identify effective technologies and strategies within connected healthcare systems for error reduction.
• To highlight areas requiring further investigation in the field of connected healthcare and medication safety.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases (Jan 2000 - June 2024).
• Keywords included: medication errors, patient safety, connected healthcare. Qualitative narrative analysis performed on 53 selected articles.

Main Results:

• Various connected healthcare technologies demonstrate effectiveness in minimizing medication errors and improving care quality.
• Integration of computerized physician order entry and clinical decision support systems shows potential for further error reduction.
• While promising, research outcomes are mixed, indicating a need for more studies.

Conclusions:

• Connected healthcare systems are valuable tools for enhancing patient safety and reducing medication errors.
• Further research is essential to address mixed outcomes and optimize intervention strategies.
• A balanced approach combining innovation, practical safety measures, and outcome evaluation is recommended.