Technology
Technology presents a number of untapped opportunities for patient safety, as well as representing a potential hazard. It is a common thread shared across many areas of WHO Patient Safety's work, where it is hoped common lessons may be shared.
For these reasons technology has been at the heart of WHO Patient Safety from an early stage, being one of the original work streams and part of the Forward Programme for 2006-2007, as well as 2008-2009. This project is part funded by a contribution from the Japanese Government.
12 May 2009 meeting on technology and patient safety
Next steps
Over the next few months WHO Patient Safety and its stakeholders will be undertaking a scoping exercise: “To identify and clarify the role and objectives of technology in improving patient safety both in the developed and developing world, and future directions (research, education, implementation) for the alliance regarding technology for patient safety.”
Programme of work
To set up one core group and four expert sub-groups which will address the main work areas outlined below.
To produce an initial scoping paper, provisionally entitled "Technology for the advancement of patient safety", that will consider areas including:
- Definition of technology for patient safety
- Identifying the breadth of the topic
- Introducing the four streams of work
To produce a series of three scientific papers, one in each of the fields described below. Each paper will aim to:
- Systematically review the recent scientific literature on the use of technology in patient safety in their area
- Identify key areas for better use of technology to improve patient safety (in both the developing and developed) world within their area
- Identify priority areas for research within their area
To identify two priority areas (one low technology and high technology) for further development by WHO Patient Safety in 2010-2011.
Work Streams
There are currently four work streams being developed in this area:
- Information technology for patient safety
- Making Technology Safer
- Introducing New Technology Safely
- Training and Simulation technology
