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EHR Errors Continue to Threaten Patient Safety

December 11, 2019

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Accurate patient identification is fundamental component to safe care delivery. Yet, providers remain daunted by electronic health record (EHR) systems that contain errors and fail to communicate or transmit information effectively. The issue of poor patient identification becomes exponentially more problematic and dangerous as more data is generated and more applications are introduced into the healthcare environment.

With increased use of technology in relatively every aspect of healthcare, subsequent risk imposed on patient safety is only expected to grow. Take for example, a recent incident at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in New Jersey. On November 18, a 51-year-old patient underwent a successful kidney transplant. However, the kidney was supposed to go to another patient that had the same name and was of similar age.

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