Use of information technology in hospitals can lead to fewer deaths, fewer complications and lower healthcare costs, according to data from a study of 41 Texas hospitals published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Researchers found that use of electronic notes and medical records was associated with a 15 percent drop in patient mortality rates and electronically entering of instructions led to a 55 percent reduction in the likelihood of death in some procedures. In addition, it was found that increased use of automated test results, order entry, and decision support led to lower costs for all hospital admissions.
The study was supported by the New York-based Commonwealth Fund and led by Ruben Amarasingham, M.D., M.B.A., associate chief of medicine at Parkland Health and Hospital System and assistant professor of medicine at UT Southwestern Medical School, and Neil Powe, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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