Safety of the use of digital services and technology - Project description

Authors

• Heli Kumpulainen Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; The wellbeing services county of North Savo, Kuopio
• Marjo-Riitta Valkonen Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; The wellbeing services county of North Savo, Kuopio
• Virpi Jylhä Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio; The wellbeing services county of North Savo, Kuopio

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23996/fjhw.159749

Keywords:

patient safety, incident reporting, information management

Abstract

Due to rapid technological advances, digital technology and services have changed the way that health care consumers and providers communicate and receive and deliver care. Further, they play a significant role in ensuring the quality and accessibility of social and health care services. Digital technology and services in social and healthcare context cover various methods, such as telemedicine and eHealth interventions, mobile health applications and remote monitoring devices. However, their implementation and use also presents unexpected challenges and risks that need to be identified to ensure proper implementation of client and patient safety and to eliminate avoidable harm. As safety in social and healthcare context is the product of many interrelated parts that change over time, efforts to improve safety should be targeted to evolve and identify emerging and unexpected challenges and risks.
By analyzing the incident reports, it is possible to identify underlying factors and generate actionable knowledge to mitigate risks. Further, the data they provide enable researchers to categorize, and analyze it for quality improvement, care enhancement and development of patient safety supportive practices in a timely manner. Therefore, it is essential to utilize the information produced by incident reports of digital technology and services to identify the risks and preventive measures related to them.