Voices from the Field

Coloradans discuss how to build a safer, healthier state

Health IT can improve patient safety in some areas such as medication safety; however, there are significant gaps in our understanding of how health IT impacts patient safety overall.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently concluded a one-year study to close those gaps. In its report, the IOM determined that health IT can make the overall safer system, leading to better care.

The IOM’s report, Health IT and Patient Safety: Building Safer Systems for Better Care, found that health IT:

• Enables patients and families to participate in their care
• Helps patients and families become more knowledgeable about conditions and treatments
• Improves communication among health care providers, patients, and families
• Facilitates shared decision making

To read more about IOM’s findings, and to view the full report, visit its website: http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Health-IT-and-Patient-Safety-Building-Safer-Systems-for-Better-Care.aspx