Health Information Technology: Shall We Wait for the Evidence?

Abstract

Editorials16 May 2006Health Information Technology: Shall We Wait for the Evidence?John D. Halamka, MDJohn D. Halamka, MDFrom Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02120.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-144-10-200605160-00013 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail A preventable medical error caused my grandmother's death. Her physician's office was a sea of paper, without automated workflow tools, decision support, or electronic documentation. Would electronic health records (EHRs) and e-prescribing have warned her physician that high-dose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might induce a gastrointestinal bleeding episode in an octogenarian receiving prednisone? Very likely. Do we have proof from randomized clinical trials done in rural clinician offices? We do not.In this issue, Chaudhry and colleagues (1) note that 25% of the health information technology (HIT) efficacy literature is from 4 institutions, each of which has developed its own EHR ...References1. Chaudhry B, Wang J, Wu S, Maglione M, Mojica W, Roth E, et al. Systematic review: impact of health information technology on quality, efficiency, and costs of medical care. Ann Intern Med. 2006;144:742-52. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Koppel R, Metlay JP, Cohen A, Abaluck B, Localio AR, Kimmel SE, et al. Role of computerized physician order entry systems in facilitating medication errors. JAMA. 2005;293:1197-203. [PMID: 15755942] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Middleton B. Assessing Value/Calculating ROI. Presented at the Health Information Technology Summit, Washington, DC, 20-23 October 2004. Accessed at www.ehcca.com/presentations/hitsummit1/middleton.pdf on 22 March 2006. Google Scholar4. Perlin JB, Kolodner RM, Roswell RH. The Veterans Health Administration: quality, value, accountability, and information as transforming strategies for patient-centered care. Am J Manag Care. 2004;10:828-36. [PMID: 15609736] MedlineGoogle Scholar5. Smith GC, Pell JP. Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma related to gravitational challenge: systematic review of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. 2003;327:1459-61. [PMID: 14684649] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Baron RJ, Fabens EL, Schiffman M, Wolf E. Electronic health records: just around the corner? Or over the cliff? Ann Intern Med. 2005;143:222-6. [PMID: 16061920] LinkGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: John D. Halamka, MDAffiliations: From Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02120.Disclosures: Stock ownership or options (other than mutual funds): Epocrates Inc.Corresponding Author: John D. Halamka, MD, Harvard Medical School, 1135 Tremont Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02120; e-mail, jhalamka@caregroup.harvard.edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoSystematic Review: Impact of Health Information Technology on Quality, Efficiency, and Costs of Medical Care Basit Chaudhry , Jerome Wang , Shinyi Wu , Margaret Maglione , Walter Mojica , Elizabeth Roth , Sally C. Morton , and Paul G. 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