What are Medication Errors?

A medication error is defined as “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the healthcare professional, patient, or consumer (1).” 

In today’s healthcare environment, there is an overwhelming need to demonstrate the value and return on investment of implementing a new technology system. When used correctly, healthcare technology has the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes and decrease costs, particularly in the area of patient safety.

There are approximately 2.6 million points of care in the U.S. — and that number is rapidly growing, as people are increasingly turning to pharmacies, telemedicine, and retail stores as providers of basic healthcare services and vaccinations. (1) As these points of care continue to increase across the nation, there’s a growing need for structures to support the frontline healthcare workers who are delivering the first line of care. It is now more important than ever to equip these healthcare workers with technology tools and clinical checklists to support patient and employee safety and quality of care within increasingly complex healthcare environments.

Ochsner Lafayette General is the largest non-profit regional health system in Acadiana, a vast region encompassing 22 parishes in southern Louisiana. The system has over 4,500 employees within six hospitals, serving the south-central region of the state by aligning with facilities across Acadiana.

Before implementing Performance Health Partner’s enterprise software system, Ochsner Lafayette General struggled to address the challenge of siloed technology systems. Across their six hospitals, there was a desire to find a solution that could address the unique needs of individual departments, while still promoting a sense of cohesiveness and providing clear data from which to draw insights across the organization.