Final answer:
Information technology improves patient safety through checklists for procedures and hemovigilance systems that track blood transfusions, thus reducing errors and enhancing outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of how information technology can improve patient safety is through the use of checklists, such as Dr. Pronovost's checklist for ICU doctors inserting central intravenous lines. This simple yet effective technology helps reduce human error by ensuring that each step necessary to prevent infection is followed. Additionally, hemovigilance systems are used in hospitals to minimize risks associated with blood transfusions and improve patient outcomes by tracking and reporting on transfusion data.
Furthermore, the global adoption of Dr. Gawande's 'safe surgery' checklist developed with the World Health Organization has shown to reduce significant postsurgical complications and mortality. Such checklists and tracking systems exemplify the potential of information technology to enhance patient safety by standardizing procedures, minimizing human error, and facilitating better communication among healthcare providers.