Implications of electronic health record downtime: an analysis of patient safety event reports (30 May 2017)

Summary

This study sought to understand the types of clinical processes, such as image and medication ordering, that are disrupted during electronic health record (EHR) downtime periods by analysing the narratives of patient safety event report data.

Patient safety report data offer a lens into EHR downtime–related safety hazards. Important areas of risk during EHR downtime periods were patient identification and communication of clinical information; these should be a focus of downtime procedure planning to reduce safety hazards.

The study concluded that EHR downtime events pose patient safety hazards, and the authors highlight critical areas for downtime procedure improvement.