Using Digital Healthcare Technologies to Improve Patient Safety

As the Nation’s patient safety agency, AHRQ funds research that provides critical evidence on how technology can improve patient safety and how technology can be safely used and implemented.  During Patient Safety Awareness Week, the AHRQ Digital Healthcare Research Program (DHR) recognizes the commitment of providers, communities, and organizations dedicated to patient safety.

Displaying Patient Photos in Medical Records Reduces Errors, Improves Patient Safety

Patient photos displayed in the electronic health record significantly reduce wrong-patient order errors and improve patient safety.
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Creating Meaningful Decision Support to Reduce Drug-Drug Interactions

By individualizing drug–drug interaction alerts to individual patient circumstances, providers can deliver more tailored care for patients at risk for harm.
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Improving Safety in Postoperative Handoff Communication with Telemedicine and Machine Learning

Implementing a postoperative handoff intervention augmented with telemedicine and machine learning technologies can promote effective and efficient communication, foster interdisciplinary collaborative team workflows, and ultimately, improve patient care and safety during care transitions.
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