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Cited by 53Patient Safety and Medication ErrorsQuality and Safety in HealthcareHealthcare Technology and Patient Monitoring

Technology, governance and patient safety: Systems issues in technology and patient safety

Balka, Ellen, Doyle-Waters, Madeleine, Lecznarowicz, Dorota, FitzGerald, J. Mark·2007·International Journal of Medical Informatics
DOI 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.05.046
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Abstract

Technology and equipment are often identified as contributors to adverse medical events, however technology is seldom the focal point of investigation as a source of medical error or adverse event. It is often seen as both a means of reducing error (e.g., automated drug dispensing machines) or as a major contributing factor to adverse events (e.g., through cognitive overload). Here we review literature about the governance of technology in health settings, which is addressed in relation to patient safety. We outline the challenges of addressing technology governance issues in the health sector, provide an overview of governance processes, and suggest that technology related adverse events have been largely conceptualized as device and user problems rather than system or socio-technical problems, which is reflected in governance processes associated with medical devices. A recognition of the situatedness of medical practices implies that new forms of governance may be required that place greater emphasis on socio-technical and systems issues.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.05.046

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  • Emerging evidence suggests that health information technology may cause new patient safety concerns and other unintended consequences due to usability issues, disruptions of clinical processes, and unsafe workarounds.

    “However, emerging evidence suggests that HIT may cause new patient safety concerns and other unintended consequences due to usability issues, disruptions of clinical processes, and unsafe workarounds to circumvent technology-related constraints.2–16”

    From An analysis of electronic health record-related patient safety concerns (2014) · cites this paper as [4]

  • Technology can introduce new uncertainties and patient safety risks by disrupting established work patterns, creating new risks in practice, and encouraging workarounds.

    “research suggests that technology may lead to new uncertainties and risks for patient safety through disrupting established work patterns, creating new risks in practice, and encouraging workarounds.”

    From Exploring the sociotechnical intersection of patient safety and electronic health record implementation (2014) · cites this paper as [4]

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Authors
Balka, E., Doyle-Waters, M., Lecznarowicz, D., & FitzGerald, J. M.
Affiliations
  • Simon Fraser University (CA)
  • Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (CA)
  • University of British Columbia (CA)
Corresponding author
Balka, Ellen
ORCID
Venue
International Journal of Medical Informatics
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2007-06
Volume
76
Pages
S35-S47
ISSN
1386-5056 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2006.05.046
OpenAlex
W2129008334
Cited by
53
References
29
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 11 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
FWCI
4.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • International Journal of Medical Informatics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Emergency Medical Services › Patient Safety and Medication Errors
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Medical Laboratory Technology › Quality and Safety in Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Healthcare Technology and Patient Monitoring
Keywords
technology governance, patient safety, medical devices, adverse events, medical errors, socio-technical systems, systems thinking, cognitive overload, automated drug dispensing, medical device regulation
MeSH terms
Humans, Medical Laboratory Science, Causality, Safety Management, Medical Errors

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