Technology
Patient data at the bedside and beyond
A report published by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) previously highlighted the dangers of incorrect patient information. Sean Kelly & Dan Johnston argue that establishing a digital identity strategy for clinicians, devices and patients will usher in a safer and more efficient workflow.
Fast access to patient and clinical information at the point of care is critical. It not only supports good care and treatment decisions leading to better outcomes for patients, it also makes life a little easier for our clinicians. Instant access to patient data saves clinicians significant time per shift and removes the complexity of remembering numerous login details, which are often required to be changed periodically. Tap- and-Go technology is here already, but that is just the beginning. Establishing a digital identity strategy for clinicians, devices and patients will usher in a safer and more efficient workflow that also improves cyber security and patient privacy. A previous report, published by the Health
Services Safety Investigations Body, highlighted the all too real dangers of incorrect patient information, particularly in an emergency situation. The report, titled: Access to critical patient information at the bedside,1
gave a
graphic example of patient misidentification. Two patients in adjacent beds with similar names in an emergency department with differing recommendations regarding resuscitation following a cardiac arrest. A mix- up between the two resulted in the avoidable death of one patient. The report has made a range of recommendations based on learning from this tragic incident, many of which can be linked back to the adoption of digital identity technology. Digital transformation is fundamentally
reshaping healthcare IT. Improving data sharing capabilities within and across health and social care organisations has long been a goal of the
NHS – indeed, technology has the power to deliver the increases in productivity. We need to meet the ever-growing demand for healthcare services, not to mention dealing with post- pandemic waiting lists. Use of cloud-based services, mobile devices, hybrid workforces, and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) provide many great opportunities. However, with the adoption of new technology comes complexity and increased risk from a variety of workflow, security, and compliance challenges. Ransomware attacks, phishing scams, and data breaches can disrupt healthcare IT systems, disrupt patient care, tarnishing a healthcare organisation’s reputation, and lead
Research conducted by Imprivata across international healthcare markets indicated that almost a third of healthcare organisations that had experienced a data breach were forced to divert patients to other healthcare facilities.
to costly regulatory fines and revenue loss. The average total cost of a healthcare data breach is a staggering £7.55 million ($9.23 million) – the highest of any industry.2 Furthermore, research conducted by
Imprivata, across international healthcare markets, indicated that almost a third of healthcare organisations that had experienced a data breach were forced to divert patients to other healthcare facilities. A further third said that procedures and tests had been delayed resulting in poor patient outcomes and one quarter saw an increase in complications from medical procedures as a result.3
Harnessing
technology to deliver the right information, to the right clinician, at the right time, in order to improve patient care, needs a new approach. Failure of technology, or more commonly,
technology that doesn’t quite work as it should is a common complaint from clinicians. If systems are difficult to access, due to overly complex login procedures, particularly in an emergency situation, people will revert to the use of ‘fail-safe’ manual processes, as
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