The goal HIMSS has undertaken will be to drive patient safety and quality of care so that by the year 2014, 75 percent of all healthcare information systems are deeply instilled with optimized safety and quality improvement tools and are an integral part of regular operations for all healthcare organizations, clinicians, patients and community members. As a result, significant benefits have accrued, including reduced medical errors and adverse events, improved healthcare quality, better communication and education, and services that are more accessible, efficient and cost-effective.
Auto Id and Bar Code Task Force Update
On April 26, 2006 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Food and Drug Administration released guidance on its web site offering guidance concerning questions raised about bar code label requirements to be implemented effective April, 2006.
HIT News in the Blood Banking Industry
The United States Industry Consensus Standard for the Uniform Labeling of Blood and Blood Components Using ISBT-128 has been accepted.
HIMSS Reports: New Patient Safety Legislation (S. 1784) Introduced
On July 29, 2005, President Bush signed the first piece of patient safety legislation (P.L. 109-41) into law since the Institute of Medicine released its report in 1999 titled “To Err is Human”.