The National Institute of Standards and Technology offers tips on making electronic health records safer.
Here are four observations:
1. Identification issues, inconsistency in information and lost data are the three main problems associated with unsafe EHR use, according to the guide.
2. The guide recommends healthcare professionals set aside a specific viewing place for patient identification to decrease the possibility of misidentifying patients.
3. Healthcare professionals may also consider adding warning prompts to double-check before inputting information into a specific patient's chart.
4. The NIST believes healthcare professionals need to address the problem of poorly designed EHR systems to enhance patient safety.
