Hawaii Hospitals To Share Documents Electronically In Order To Reduce Medical Errors
The Associate Press reveals that some of Hawaii’s biggest hospitals have decided to electronically share patient records in an effort to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors. The Hawaii Pacific Health group and Queens Medical Center announced their decision to work together this past Wednesday.
In joining efforts – especially when critically ill patients come to the emergency room - Dr. William Sandusky from Straub Medical clinic notes physicians will have "immediate access to patient medical records enables his team to see medical histories, lab results and medications.” By providing doctors this crucial information, they can determine appropriate medical treatment.
In fact, many studies reveal having sufficient information on hand reduces the chances of medical errors and decreases the likelihood that doctors will fail to diagnose medical conditions when they visit hospitals for critical care. Recently, U.S. News & World Report also noted the importance of bringing electronic medical records (EMRs) to physicians’ offices and hospitals.
However, despite generally recognized benefits of EMRs, some problems exists in getting the systems up and running, such as costs involved and the need of doctors to spend a significant number of hours to learn the new system. An additional study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that although EMRs made doctors more likely to offer tests in certain areas such as routine measures of blood pressure, they were less likely to discuss other issues such as treating depression.
Alternatively, a study in the American Journal of Managed Care found that EMRs can lead to a higher level of care where interactive features exists, such as email reminders to patients.
As Hawaii medical malpractice lawyers, we find the use of EMS in Hawaii hospitals as a promising step to reduce medical errors and negligence throughout the Hawaii health care system.
The Hawaii medical centers involved in the sharing of electronic information include Straub, Kapioalani Medical Center for Women and Children, and Pail Momi Medical Center on Oahu and Wilcox Memorial Hospital on Kauai.
For more information, or if you believe you have not received the medical care you deserve while visiting a Hawaii hospital or may be the victim of a medical error, please contact the Hawaii medical malpractice attorneys at Bostwick & Peterson, LLP for a confidential consultation.
