Technology Plan

Suggested practices and technologies are limited to those proven to show benefit or are the only known technologies with a particular capability. As other options may exist, please send information on any additional technologies, along with appropriate evidence, to info@patientsafetymovement.org.  
Use of information and communication technology is a particularly fertile area of innovation being used to engage patients.  Examples include electronic patient portals, smart phone apps, email and texting pathways and OpenNotes.
OpenNotes is an international movement advocating patient access to all aspects of their electronic health records, including physician notes and diagnostic tests.  Supporters believe that providing ready access to notes is transformative in empowering patients, families, and caregivers to feel more in control of their healthcare decisions, and improve the quality and safety of care.  Researchers in the OpenNotes community are collaborating closely with health systems, healthcare professionals and millions of patients around the world to understand the effects of fully transparent medical care on communication, engagement, safety, costs, and the overall quality of care.
Many companies are producing technological solutions designed to advance PFE.  Healthcare organizations are encouraged to use the HIMSS PFE framework displayed below to track innovation in this space.  However, patient advocates also cite the digital divide and urge that PFE implementers be aware that many people are not proficient in the use of information technology or do not have access to it, and take steps to ensure that these patients are not left behind.
Healthcare organization should also consider using their Serious Safety Event reporting system, or any alternate or complementary reporting systems used to track patient safety outcomes.  
When possible, healthcare organizations should consider integrating patient complaints, the narrative portions of patient satisfaction surveys or other mechanisms that patients and families use to communicate concerns about patient safety events.  Innovations such as MedStar Health’s “We Want to Know” platform specifically designed to prompt complaints and suggestion from users of care, show promising results: Patients in the MedStar system are reporting patient safety events or aspects of events that hospital staff have failed to report.