Digital technological innovation and clinical risk policy: results and prospects in an Italian private hospital

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background</bold> .The healthcare industry is witnessing a transformative era marked by the advent of digital technologies. One such notable development is the digitization of prescription therapy, which holds potential for significant clinical risk reduction. The traditional methods of maintaining health records, particularly in regions like Italy, are predominantly paper-based, presenting challenges like poor legibility and transcription errors, leading to possible medication mishaps and adverse events. The advent of electronic medical record models, as seen in the private healthcare facility in Friuli Venezia-Giulia, north-eastern Italy, presents a promising solution to these issues. <bold>Methods</bold> .This study explores the implementation of the Electronic Unified Therapy Record (EUTR), a digital tool initiated with the partial digitization of the clinical folder. The EUTR, operational since 2021, is an application that consolidates all therapy sheet information and supplements it with patient-specific data. It is employed during the prescription phase by doctors and the administration phase by nurses, aiming to reduce assistance times and mitigate errors associated with incorrect drug administration. <bold>Results</bold> The preliminary outcomes of implementing the EUTR have shown significant potential in enhancing safety and quality of care. By digitizing and centralizing patient treatment data, EUTR ensures accuracy and consistency, thereby enhancing patient safety. Its real-time updating feature allows for instant error detection, swift rectification, and seamless communication among healthcare professionals. These features have contributed to a reduction in assistance time and a decrease in therapeutic errors. <bold>Conclusions</bold> The introduction of digital tools like the EUTR in healthcare is a promising step towards reducing clinical risks and enhancing patient care. While the preliminary outcomes have been positive, the study concludes with a proposal for future enhancements to the digital tool. Continued innovation in healthcare digitalization, driven by tools like EUTR, can potentially revolutionize patient care, paving the way for a safer, more efficient, and patient-centered healthcare system. This study serves as a benchmark for further research on the impact of digital transformation in healthcare.

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