We are all familiar with the story of the boy who cried wolf, but have you ever considered this story in the context of our healthcare delivery systems? Contatto believes that when continuous patient output from implantable devices is being monitored on a variety of platforms, it becomes difficult to decipher what is important to respond to and what is a false alarm. When it comes to our health, we want systems in place which are prepared to respond appropriately if the wolf arrives.
For this reason, Contatto believes that less is more when it comes to the workflow processes which monitor implantable devices in clinical settings. They have created a signle platform for monitoring patients and automating the input of clinical records. When hospitals are already short-staffed and human resources are stretched thin, the technology used should effectively ease an immense workload. Conversely, too much technology has the potential to increase the workload of healthcare providers, while simultaneously jeopardizing patient care.
Quality care is interrupted when the time and energy of healthcare providers is inefficiently used trying to decipher automated alerts on various interfaces. Incorrect and delayed treatment, and the human diligence require to monitor for errors are two major issues that has been identified in the adoption of health information technology (HIT)[HGR(1] .
Contatto streamlines workflows into a single unified experience. Not only does this service alleviate work for healthcare providers, but patients can also be better assured that the Boy Who Called Wolf is just a fable, and not the reality of their healthcare delivery.
United States, Europe, and Australia alike, we have seen situations in which the system of people, technologies, organizational routines, and regulations that constitutes any health care practice seemed to be weakened rather than strengthened by the introduction of the PCIS application. In other words, we frequently observed instances in which the intended strengthening of one link in the chain of care actually leads unwittingly to a deletion or weakening of others.“
By ignoring everything in the ‘communication space’, informatics was building systems that did not actually fit the real needs of clinical practice.
Negative consequences for patients can be minor, such as having a duplicate blood test, but extend through to injuries or even death, for example through incorrect or delayed treatment
decision support overload, and the need for constant human diligence to catch errors.
Issues with system functionality, including poor user interfaces and fragmented displays, delayed care delivery
At the same time, problems with IT can disrupt the delivery of care and increase the likelihood of new, often unforeseen, errors that affect the safety and quality of clinical care and may lead to patient harm
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A major issue identified in the adoption of health information technology (HIT) systems is “decision support overload, and the need for constant human diligence to catch errors.”
[HGR(1]Cite?