Electronic Health Record System Helps Reduce Preventable Medical Errors at Virginia Hospitals

by | November 25th, 2013

November 25, 2013

Each year, a large number of hospital patients lose their lives or are seriously injured as the result of preventable medical errors made by doctors and staff. The Norfolk Medical Malpractice Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley explain some hospitals in the state of Virginia are working to prevent such mistakes through the use of electronic health records.

According to a story from U.S. News, facilities owned by Sentara Healthcare began implementing the electronic system in 2005 to the tune of roughly $237 million. By 2011 though, the system had produced almost double the expected savings through the prevention of an estimated 180,000 medication errors. Other savings were accumulated by the program through the slashing of hospital stay durations, lowering of healthcare costs, and increasing savings.

Experts say the program reduces errors by providing hospital staff members with an easy way to access and update information regarding a patient. Despite such ease of access to patient information, the program is being touted as also having created a better way to protect patient privacy as well.

Lowell “the Hammer” Stanley and his team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers applaud the use of this new technology in order to reduce the number of patients who are harmed annually. The firm is hopeful to see similar programs implemented at other hospital facilities in the future.