Can Electronic Medical Record Mining Lead to Fewer Medical Errors?

 Posted on March 14, 2023 in Medical Malpractice

In 2016, researchers from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine revealed that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. Since that time, there has been considerable pressure on the medical profession to identify why so many errors are occurring and what can be done to mitigate this devastating trend.

Research and practical trials designed to answer these questions are ongoing. Additionally, many medical facilities are starting to implement new technologies to minimize the likelihood that errors will occur and to reduce the harm associated with any that do occur. Among the most promising innovations being widely embraced across the country in recent years involves the mining of electronic medical records.

What Mining Aims to Achieve

All too often, failures in communication, multitasking, and attempts to account for a wealth of information in the blink of an eye lead to errors. By mining a patient’s electronic medical records in specific ways, potential errors can be caught before they are fully realized.

For example, if a medication has been prescribed for a patient who is in urgent distress, there may be no time for the prescribing physician to do anything beyond glancing at the list of medications on file for the patient and their known allergies. Unbeknownst to that physician, a few new medications have been prescribed for that patient since the master list was updated. By allowing technology to mine the patient’s entire record, a potentially deadly adverse reaction caused by the interaction of two medications can be avoided.

As less than 10 percent of adverse medication reactions are caught thanks to voluntary patient reporting alone, the above scenario is certainly not an unlikely one. From medication error prevention to the mitigation of acquired-infection risk and a reduction in surgical complications, mining of patient electronic medical records could prove to be a game-changer over time.

Contact a Reputable Rockford County Medical Malpractice Lawyer for More Information

Although it is possible that electronic medical record mining could minimize the number of medical errors that occur from now on, at present, they continue to affect the lives of millions of American families every year. If you or a loved one have suffered harm due to a medical mistake, connect with the dedicated team of Rockford, IL medical malpractice lawyers at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law to learn more about your rights and options under the law.

Our firm is proud to offer risk-free, confidential case evaluation appointments at no cost to those who are interested in learning more about their options. To get started, please call us at 815-215-7561 or submit a contact form on our website.

Source:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/hospitals-medical-errors-how-they-reduce-them-edfa257f