Big Island Hospitals Implement Electronic Medical Records System To Reduce Medical Errors
Hawaii Health Systems Corporation recently announced its plans to implement an electronic health records (EHR) system by year-end in its East Hawaii Region, which covers three Big Island hospitals. Commitments to change to EHRs are expected from 121 other hospitals nationwide as a way to improve patient safety and decrease medical malpractice. In exchange for this commitment, the hospitals will be eligible for more than $7 million in federal funds.
Studies show conflicting reports concerning the benefits of EHRs on patient safety. While some tout the use of electronic records as providing more efficient and streamlined care, as well as eliminating prescription errors, other reports conclude that EHRs do not improve standard measures of hospital quality.
In fact, although EHRs may help already “technologically savvy” hospitals, where the systems are new, the incidence of medical malpractice may increase as a result of confusion with the technology, charting errors and the proper use of terminology.
As Hawaii medical malpractice lawyers, we are concerned about the frequency of medical errors at hospitals in Hawaii and across the country. We are hopeful the introduction of EHRs will have the intended benefit of increased patient safety.
For more information, or if you believe you have been the victim of medical negligence, please contact the lawyers at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP.
