Improving injury prevention through health information technology

Am J Prev Med. 2015 Feb;48(2):219-228. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.08.018. Epub 2014 Nov 6.

Abstract

Health information technology is an emerging area of focus in clinical medicine with the potential to improve injury and violence prevention practice. With injuries being the leading cause of death for Americans aged 1-44 years, greater implementation of evidence-based preventive services, referral to community resources, and real-time surveillance of emerging threats is needed. Through a review of the literature and capturing of current practice in the field, this paper showcases how health information technology applied to injury and violence prevention can lead to strengthened clinical preventive services, more rigorous measurement of clinical outcomes, and improved injury surveillance, potentially resulting in health improvement.

MeSH terms

  • Decision Support Systems, Clinical
  • Domestic Violence / prevention & control
  • Drug Overdose / prevention & control
  • Drug Prescriptions
  • Humans
  • Information Dissemination
  • Mass Screening
  • Meaningful Use
  • Medical Informatics*
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Wounds and Injuries / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations