Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health IT
Abstract Background The use of health information technology (IT) has been shown to promote patient safety in Labor and Delivery (L&D) units. The use of health IT to apply safety science principles (e.g., standardization) to L&D unit processes may further advance perinatal safety. Methods Se...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-017-0572-8 |
| _version_ | 1818844647693221888 |
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| author | Jennifer Webb Asta Sorensen Samantha Sommerness Beth Lasater Kamila Mistry Leila Kahwati |
| author_facet | Jennifer Webb Asta Sorensen Samantha Sommerness Beth Lasater Kamila Mistry Leila Kahwati |
| author_sort | Jennifer Webb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The use of health information technology (IT) has been shown to promote patient safety in Labor and Delivery (L&D) units. The use of health IT to apply safety science principles (e.g., standardization) to L&D unit processes may further advance perinatal safety. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with L&D units participating in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ’s) Safety Program for Perinatal Care (SPPC) to assess units’ experience with program implementation. Analysis of interview transcripts was used to characterize the process and experience of using health IT for applying safety science principles to L&D unit processes. Results Forty-six L&D units from 10 states completed participation in SPPC program implementation; thirty-two (70%) reported the use of health IT as an enabling strategy for their local implementation. Health IT was used to improve standardization of processes, use of independent checks, and to facilitate learning from defects. L&D units standardized care processes through use of electronic health record (EHR)-based order sets and use of smart pumps and other technology to improve medication safety. Units also standardized EHR documentation, particularly related to electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) and shoulder dystocia. Cognitive aids and tools were integrated into EHR and care workflows to create independent checks such as checklists, risk assessments, and communication handoff tools. Units also used data from EHRs to monitor processes of care to learn from defects. Units experienced several challenges incorporating health IT, including obtaining organization approval, working with their busy IT departments, and retrieving standardized data from health IT systems. Conclusions Use of health IT played an integral part in the planning and implementation of SPPC for participating L&D units. Use of health IT is an encouraging approach for incorporating safety science principles into care to improve perinatal safety and should be incorporated into materials to facilitate the implementation of perinatal safety initiatives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:17:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75aca566298140e0a15e67f7c47f1885 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6947 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T05:17:06Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making |
| spelling | doaj.art-75aca566298140e0a15e67f7c47f18852022-12-21T20:34:37ZengBMCBMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making1472-69472017-12-011711910.1186/s12911-017-0572-8Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health ITJennifer Webb0Asta Sorensen1Samantha Sommerness2Beth Lasater3Kamila Mistry4Leila Kahwati5RTI InternationalRTI InternationalUniversity of Minnesota School of NursingRTI InternationalAgency for Healthcare Research and QualityRTI InternationalAbstract Background The use of health information technology (IT) has been shown to promote patient safety in Labor and Delivery (L&D) units. The use of health IT to apply safety science principles (e.g., standardization) to L&D unit processes may further advance perinatal safety. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with L&D units participating in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ’s) Safety Program for Perinatal Care (SPPC) to assess units’ experience with program implementation. Analysis of interview transcripts was used to characterize the process and experience of using health IT for applying safety science principles to L&D unit processes. Results Forty-six L&D units from 10 states completed participation in SPPC program implementation; thirty-two (70%) reported the use of health IT as an enabling strategy for their local implementation. Health IT was used to improve standardization of processes, use of independent checks, and to facilitate learning from defects. L&D units standardized care processes through use of electronic health record (EHR)-based order sets and use of smart pumps and other technology to improve medication safety. Units also standardized EHR documentation, particularly related to electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) and shoulder dystocia. Cognitive aids and tools were integrated into EHR and care workflows to create independent checks such as checklists, risk assessments, and communication handoff tools. Units also used data from EHRs to monitor processes of care to learn from defects. Units experienced several challenges incorporating health IT, including obtaining organization approval, working with their busy IT departments, and retrieving standardized data from health IT systems. Conclusions Use of health IT played an integral part in the planning and implementation of SPPC for participating L&D units. Use of health IT is an encouraging approach for incorporating safety science principles into care to improve perinatal safety and should be incorporated into materials to facilitate the implementation of perinatal safety initiatives.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-017-0572-8Perinatal healthLabor and deliveryHealth ITElectronic health record (EHR)Patient safetyQuality improvement |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer Webb Asta Sorensen Samantha Sommerness Beth Lasater Kamila Mistry Leila Kahwati Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health IT BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making Perinatal health Labor and delivery Health IT Electronic health record (EHR) Patient safety Quality improvement |
| title | Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health IT |
| title_full | Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health IT |
| title_fullStr | Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health IT |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health IT |
| title_short | Advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health IT |
| title_sort | advancing perinatal patient safety through application of safety science principles using health it |
| topic | Perinatal health Labor and delivery Health IT Electronic health record (EHR) Patient safety Quality improvement |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12911-017-0572-8 |
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