Q: Why must healthcare providers and organizations consider IT as part of their strategic approach to reducing adverse events and improving overall patient safety?

A: I have studied the impact of the strategic use of technology in another industry – aviation – for a number of years. During the many years I practiced, I was frustrated with healthcare’s safety record and the pace of technology uptake as part of the solution. Technology, adopted as part of an overall strategy, has the potential to be a critical lever in improving patient safety. We are already seeing great results in some areas of healthcare. For example, anesthesia has moved the bar from one of the riskiest care specialties to one of the safest for patients over the past three decades or so. This was accomplished by the systematic application of technology in addition to research, standardized practices and training, and relentless analysis of available data, including settled claims.

Along with a systems approach and adoption of proven, evidence-based tools such as the WHO surgical checklist, organizations need to employ interoperable technology that will allow them to “wire in” best practices for safety. In addition, just as modern technology helps air traffic controllers predict conflicts long before they occur, strategic technology solutions can enable predictive models that reduce the risk of adverse events.

What is strategic interoperability & why do you need it?
Strategic interoperability enables you to aggregate, normalize, and integrate data about every patient, from every care setting, so that clinicians and administrators can make decisions based on complete records and insight from real-time analytics.

Be sure to visit the InterSystems booth at HIMSS14, Booth 2741, Hall B to see presentations from North Shore-LIJ, RICOH, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Dr. Mark Blatt from Intel and more. You’ll also have the opportunity to bring your questions and comments to a variety of educational and networking events supported by InterSystems. Visit www.InterSystems.com/HIMSS14 for more information.

About InterSystems: InterSystems is a global leader in software for connected care, with headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and offices in 25 countries. InterSystems HealthShare® is a health informatics platform that enables strategic interoperability and analytics for action across a hospital network, community, region or nation. InterSystems’ products are used by thousands of hospitals and laboratories worldwide, including all of the top 15 hospitals on the Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals as rated by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit InterSystems.com.