Describe a current safety concern in your practice environment.
Explain one HIT that could be applied to address the concern.
Explain how it could be applied to enhance safety.
Identify at least one possible unintended consequence of adopting the HIT.
Discuss at least one strategy for mitigating the unintended consequence.
Sample Answer
Current Safety Concern in a Healthcare Practice Environment: Medication Errors
Medication errors remain a significant safety concern across various healthcare settings (hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities). These errors can occur at any stage of the medication process: prescribing, transcribing, dispensing, or administering. They can lead to adverse drug events (ADEs), prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and even patient mortality. Common types of medication errors include:
Wrong dose: Administering too much or too little of a medication.
Wrong drug: Administering a medication different from what was prescribed.
Wrong patient: Administering medication to the incorrect patient.