Supplier exec: Connectivity will unleash the power of health IT

Electronic medical records and computerized physician order entry won't help the nation meet the goals of the the federal stimulus legislation of patient-centered coordinated care, improved quality of care, reduced medical errors and less duplication. It will take connectivity between EMRs and other medical technologies, and it will require full, two-way interoperability, says a medication management executive.

Writing in Hospitals & Health Networks, Jeff Pelletier, vice president and platform development leader of medication management systems for Lake Forest, Ill.-based healthcare supplier Hospira, says, "If the healthcare community really wants to improve the quality of care and care coordination, and reduce medical errors and duplicative care, then all HIT tools must work together." That includes the EMR, hospital information system, infusion pumps, bar-coded medication administration systems, vitals monitors and pharmacy systems.

"Interoperability delivers a holistic view of a patient's medical history and medication administration, much like a car dashboard, and it is in this model of HIT where real benefits can be seen. If the layers of patient and protocol information aren't interoperable, the technology may not decrease errors or improve outcomes and coordination of care," Pelletier says. "Interoperability also improves patient safety by limiting the amount of manual information a clinician must enter into a computer or device."

For more:
- read Pelletier's commentary in Hospitals & Health Networks

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