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The Impact of Automation of Systems on Medical Errors: Evidence from Field Research

Author

Listed:
  • Ravi Aron

    (Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21202)

  • Shantanu Dutta

    (Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089)

  • Ramkumar Janakiraman

    (Mays Business School, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843)

  • Praveen A. Pathak

    (Department of Information Systems and Operations Management, Warrington College of Business Administration, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611)

Abstract

We use panel data from multiple wards from two hospitals spanning a three-year period to investigate the impact of automation of the core error prevention functions in hospitals on medical error rates. Although there are studies based on anecdotal evidence and self-reported data on how automation impacts medical errors, no systematic studies exist that are based on actual error rates from hospitals. Further, there is no systematic evidence on how incremental automation over time and across multiple wards impacts the rate of medical errors. The primary objective of our study is to fill this gap in the literature by empirically examining how the automation of core error prevention functions affects two types of medical errors. We draw on the medical informatics literature and principal-agency theory and use a unique panel data set of actual documented medical errors from two major hospitals to analyze the interplay between automation and medical errors. We hypothesize that the automation of the sensing function (recording and observing agent actions) will have the greatest impact on reducing error rates. We show that there are significant complementarities between quality management training imparted to hospital staff and the automation of control systems in reducing interpretative medical errors. We also offer insights to practitioners and theoreticians alike on how the automation of error prevention functions can be combined with training in quality management to yield better outcomes. Our results suggest an optimal implementation path for the automation of error prevention functions in hospitals.

Suggested Citation

  • Ravi Aron & Shantanu Dutta & Ramkumar Janakiraman & Praveen A. Pathak, 2011. "The Impact of Automation of Systems on Medical Errors: Evidence from Field Research," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 429-446, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:22:y:2011:i:3:p:429-446
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1110.0350
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    5. Ancarani, Alessandro & Di Mauro, Carmela & Gitto, Simone & Mancuso, Paolo & Ayach, Ali, 2016. "Technology acquisition and efficiency in Dubai hospitals," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 113(PB), pages 475-485.
    6. Tharanga Rajapakshe & Subodha Kumar & Arun Sen & Chelliah Sriskandarajah, 2020. "Sustainability Planning for Healthcare Information Exchanges with Supplier Rebate Program," Operations Research, INFORMS, vol. 68(3), pages 793-817, May.
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    9. Ari Bronsoler & Joseph Doyle & John Van Reenen, 2021. "The impact of healthcare IT on clinical quality, productivity and workers," CEP Discussion Papers dp1801, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    10. Niam Yaraghi & Anna Ye Du & Raj Sharman & Ram D. Gopal & Ram Ramesh, 2015. "Health Information Exchange as a Multisided Platform: Adoption, Usage, and Practice Involvement in Service Co-Production," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(1), pages 1-18, March.
    11. Kevin Miller & Gunjan Mansingh, 2017. "OptiPres: a distributed mobile agent decision support system for optimal patient drug prescription," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 129-148, February.
    12. Ramkumar Janakiraman & Eunho Park & Emre M. Demirezen & Subodha Kumar, 2023. "The Effects of Health Information Exchange Access on Healthcare Quality and Efficiency: An Empirical Investigation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(2), pages 791-811, February.
    13. Catalin Popescu & Hani EL-Chaarani & Zouhour EL-Abiad & Iza Gigauri, 2022. "Implementation of Health Information Systems to Improve Patient Identification," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-20, November.
    14. Daniel Gartner & Yiye Zhang & Rema Padman, 2018. "Cognitive workload reduction in hospital information systems," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 224-243, June.
    15. Ahmadi, Hossein & Nilashi, Mehrbakhsh & Shahmoradi, Leila & Ibrahim, Othman & Sadoughi, Farahnaz & Alizadeh, Mojtaba & Alizadeh, Azar, 2018. "The moderating effect of hospital size on inter and intra-organizational factors of Hospital Information System adoption," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 124-149.
    16. Nilashi, Mehrbakhsh & Ahmadi, Hossein & Ahani, Ali & Ravangard, Ramin & Ibrahim, Othman bin, 2016. "Determining the importance of Hospital Information System adoption factors using Fuzzy Analytic Network Process (ANP)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 244-264.
    17. Abhay Nath Mishra & Youyou Tao & Mark Keil & Jeong-ha (Cath) Oh, 2022. "Functional IT Complementarity and Hospital Performance in the United States: A Longitudinal Investigation," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 33(1), pages 55-75, March.
    18. Adam Powell & Sergei Savin & Nicos Savva, 2012. "Physician Workload and Hospital Reimbursement: Overworked Physicians Generate Less Revenue per Patient," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 14(4), pages 512-528, October.
    19. Rutkowski, Anne-Francoise, 2013. "A Balanced Diet and Appropriate Use of Information Technology," Other publications TiSEM 4e926c49-9d6a-49b3-a0e9-5, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    20. Ying Liu & Ravi Aron, 2015. "Organizational Control, Incentive Contracts, and Knowledge Transfer in Offshore Business Process Outsourcing," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 26(1), pages 81-99, March.
    21. Justin T. Kistler & Ramkumar Janakiraman & Subodha Kumar & Vikram Tiwari, 2021. "The Effect of Operational Process Changes on Preoperative Patient Flow: Evidence from Field Research," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(6), pages 1647-1667, June.
    22. Mohajan, Haradhan, 2016. "An Analysis of Knowledge Management for the Development of Global Health," MPRA Paper 82959, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 16 Aug 2016.

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