A report released Thursday by the Joint Commission emphasizes the importance of health IT to hospital viability in the future, Healthcare IT News reports.
The report, titled "Health Care at the Crossroads: Guiding Principles for the Development of the Hospital of the Future," was developed by a panel of health care experts.
According to the report, IT will play a significant role in enhancing health care quality and safety. It adds that health IT can support the migration of hospital-based care into the community and home settings.
To address technology in the hospital of the future, the report recommends:
- Adopting labor-saving and integrative technologies across the hospital;
- Identifying reliable individuals to provide technology assessment and investment guidance for hospitals;
- Making the business case and sustaining funding to support the widespread adoption of health IT; and
- Redesigning business and care processes in tandem with health IT adoption (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 11/20).
The Joint Commission's report is available online (.pdf).