Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in Japan

Objectives Approximately 20 years have passed since hospital information systems (HISs) featuring full-scale electronic medical records were first implemented in Japan. Patient safety is one of the most important of the several “safety” roles that HISs are expected to fulfill. However, insufficient...

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Main Authors: Kiwamu Nagoshi, Takashi Watari, Yasushi Matsumura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Korean Society of Medical Informatics 2022-04-01
Series:Healthcare Informatics Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://e-hir.org/upload/pdf/hir-2022-28-2-105.pdf
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author Kiwamu Nagoshi
Takashi Watari
Yasushi Matsumura
author_facet Kiwamu Nagoshi
Takashi Watari
Yasushi Matsumura
author_sort Kiwamu Nagoshi
collection DOAJ
description Objectives Approximately 20 years have passed since hospital information systems (HISs) featuring full-scale electronic medical records were first implemented in Japan. Patient safety is one of the most important of the several “safety” roles that HISs are expected to fulfill. However, insufficient research has analyzed the contribution of HISs to patient safety. This paper reviews the history of HISs in connection with patient safety in Japan and discusses the future of the patient safety function of HISs in a favorable environment for digitization. Methods A review on the history of HISs with functions that contribute to patient safety was conducted, analyzing evidence from reports published by the Japanese government and papers on patient safety and HISs published in various countries. Results Patient safety has become a concern, and initiatives to promote patient safety have progressed simultaneously with the spread of HISs. To address the problem of patient safety, most large hospitals prioritize patients’ welfare when building HISs. However, no HIS-associated reduction in adverse events due to medical treatment could be confirmed. Conclusions HISs are expected to help prevent medical accidents, such as patient- and drug-related errors. It is hoped that the patient safety functions of HISs will become generalized and contribute to patient safety in the future. To achieve this, the government and academic societies should provide regulations and guidelines on HISs and patient safety to the medical community and medical-device vendors. Furthermore, departments responsible for HISs and patient safety should collaborate to gather evidence for the effectiveness of HISs.
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spelling doaj.art-6bcd7e195013434591bf7768efaf75c72022-12-22T00:39:41ZengThe Korean Society of Medical InformaticsHealthcare Informatics Research2093-36812093-369X2022-04-0128210511110.4258/hir.2022.28.2.1051109Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in JapanKiwamu Nagoshi0Takashi Watari1Yasushi Matsumura2 Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Shimane, Japan General Medicine Centre, Shimane University Hospital, Shimane, Japan National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, JapanObjectives Approximately 20 years have passed since hospital information systems (HISs) featuring full-scale electronic medical records were first implemented in Japan. Patient safety is one of the most important of the several “safety” roles that HISs are expected to fulfill. However, insufficient research has analyzed the contribution of HISs to patient safety. This paper reviews the history of HISs in connection with patient safety in Japan and discusses the future of the patient safety function of HISs in a favorable environment for digitization. Methods A review on the history of HISs with functions that contribute to patient safety was conducted, analyzing evidence from reports published by the Japanese government and papers on patient safety and HISs published in various countries. Results Patient safety has become a concern, and initiatives to promote patient safety have progressed simultaneously with the spread of HISs. To address the problem of patient safety, most large hospitals prioritize patients’ welfare when building HISs. However, no HIS-associated reduction in adverse events due to medical treatment could be confirmed. Conclusions HISs are expected to help prevent medical accidents, such as patient- and drug-related errors. It is hoped that the patient safety functions of HISs will become generalized and contribute to patient safety in the future. To achieve this, the government and academic societies should provide regulations and guidelines on HISs and patient safety to the medical community and medical-device vendors. Furthermore, departments responsible for HISs and patient safety should collaborate to gather evidence for the effectiveness of HISs.http://e-hir.org/upload/pdf/hir-2022-28-2-105.pdfhospital information systemselectronic medical recordselectronic health recordspatient safetysafety management
spellingShingle Kiwamu Nagoshi
Takashi Watari
Yasushi Matsumura
Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in Japan
Healthcare Informatics Research
hospital information systems
electronic medical records
electronic health records
patient safety
safety management
title Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in Japan
title_full Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in Japan
title_fullStr Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in Japan
title_full_unstemmed Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in Japan
title_short Prospects of Hospital Information Systems and Patient Safety in Japan
title_sort prospects of hospital information systems and patient safety in japan
topic hospital information systems
electronic medical records
electronic health records
patient safety
safety management
url http://e-hir.org/upload/pdf/hir-2022-28-2-105.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT kiwamunagoshi prospectsofhospitalinformationsystemsandpatientsafetyinjapan
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