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Using Technology to Protect Patients & Physicians

Published on 10 December 13
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Studies have indicated that there are as many as 1.5 million people who are injured in the U.S. each year due to medical malpractice. Although the vast majority of these individuals will not file a lawsuit, it is still important for the medical profession to place a major emphasis on reducing the risk of ending up in court. Because of this, the industry has been embracing technological advances that make it easier to protect patients and physicians.

How is My Doctor Utilizing Technology?

Although each medical facility needs to determine which technological options makes the most sense to fill their needs, it is becoming extremely common for the majority of hospitals and doctor's offices to turn to their computers to help them avoid making expensive mistakes. For example, approximately 7,000 people are killed each year due to prescriptions that are illegibly written. This is a serious issue, and it is not difficult to understand why many pharmacy technicians have a difficult time properly interpreting dosage indications, drug names and abbreviations that are written in the typical doctor scrawl. Fortunately, it is now possible to use electronic prescribing in order to alleviate the risk of injuring or killing a patient via sloppy handwriting.

Other Examples of the Importance of Using Technology

One of the most common ways that technology has been used to improve the industry is the implementation of electronic medical records (EMR). In fact, the usage of EMR has been proven to reduce healthcare spending, enhance patient care, promote continuity of care and increase efficiency. Additionally, any medical facility that is using EMR will find it easier to protect themselves against malpractice claims.

Medical offices have relied on a paper tracking system for hundreds of years, but it is easy to understand how this can lead to mistakes. Fortunately, it is now possible for the industry as a whole to avoid scheduling breakdowns by utilizing practice management software to track all of their appointments and follow-up calls. By using this software, it is much easier for a wide range of medical professionals to avoid dealing with any preventable issues such as failing to follow up with a lab if test results are not received in a timely manner.

How Will Technology Impact the Medical Industry in the Future?

Although it is impossible to know for certain exactly which technological advances will become commonplace throughout the industry in the future, it is easy to predict that electronic prescribing will continue to become increasingly popular. It also seems highly likely that each new advance will reduce the possibility that you will find yourself dealing with a serious injury that has been caused by medical malpractice.

Unfortunately, no amount of technology will ever eliminate every mistake from the medical field, so you could still end up suffering from serious malpractice complications. If this happens to you, you should consider visiting the site of a experienced medical malpractice attorney like http://www.bottarlaw.com/syracuse-medical-malpractice-lawyer/ for example, to determine if you have a viable enough case to file a lawsuit against the responsible party.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/saginawfuture/4323593358/
This blog is listed under Development & Implementations and Data & Information Management Community

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