title: Information technology and patient safety in nursing practice: an international perspective.
abstract: When people become patients, they place their trust in their health care providers. As providers assume responsibility for their diagnosis and treatment, patients have a right to expect that this will include responsibility for their safety during all aspects of care. However, increasing epidemiological data make it clear that patient safety is a global problem. Improved nursing care may prevent many adverse events, and nursing must take a stronger leadership role in this area. Although errors are almost inevitable, safety can be improved, and health care institutions are increasingly making safety a top priority. Information technology provides safety benefits by enhancing communication and delivering decision-support; its use will likely be a cornerstone for improving safety. This paper will discuss the status of patient safety from an international viewpoint, provide case studies from different countries, and discuss information technology solutions from a nursing perspective.
authors.affiliation: The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and The PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Information Systems in Nursing Care, 525 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van de Castle
authors.forename: Jeongeun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Mavilde L G
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedreira
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goossen
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Bates
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007256:Information Systems; D007297:Inpatients; D038622:Internationality; D008490:Medical Informatics; D008508:Medication Errors; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards*; D010045:Outpatients; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017751:Safety Management