Massachusetts Officials Say Nurses’ Lack of EHR Access Put Patients at Risk
Boston Medical Center patients were exposed to hepatitis B because nurses lacked access to electronic health records, according to an investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Investigators found that the hospital "failed to ensure" that the nurses "received orientation and read-only access to the hospital's computerized medical record system before being allowed to independently care for hemodialysis patients." A hospital spokesperson said that the facility is working to "implement new policies and procedures" to prevent recurrences of the incident.
- "Patients Were Exposed to Hepatitis B Because Nurses Lacked Access to Electronic Medical Records" (Kowalczyk, "White Coat Notes," Boston Globe, 8/1).