Electronic Health Records | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Electronic Health Records | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Primer Summarizes Benefits, Safety Concerns Related to Electronic Health Records

A new AHRQ primer summarizes the positive effects that electronic health records (EHRs) can have on patient safety as well as the unintended patient safety concerns they can create.The research review found EHRs have decreased medication errors, improved adherence to guidelines, and improved attitudes toward patient safety as well as job satisfaction among physicians and nurses. However, the review also identified new safety concerns related to data entry. For instance, users could be distracted when entering information into parts of the application that are confusing, or they may not provide complete documentation. In addition, security measures may limit opportunities for nurses or pharmacists to prevent or correct prescription errors. Access the full report, Patient Safety Primer: Electronic Health Records.