Editor’s Note: David LaBorde, M.D. is the CEO of Iconic Data Inc. and Strategic Advisor at DSS, Inc. Dr. David LaBorde has over 20 years of experience in healthcare and technology and has worked with healthcare provider organizations helping them with strategy, workflow standardization, achieving transparency into their operations, and improving their quality of care and operating performance.
Communication failures in U.S. Hospitals are a leading cause of preventable medical errors and adverse events. The most dangerous times are patient care transitions at the time of shift changes and patient transfers between hospital areas, healthcare facilities, and care settings. According to the Joint Commission, an estimated 80 percent of serious medical errors involve miscommunication between caregivers during “handoffs” and between care providers at patient care transitions.
