Question

At Medical Center Hospital, the master patient index system is not meeting facility needs. There are duplicate numbers and errors in patient identification information. The IS director replaces the system with a newer system from a different vendor. After several months, the new system is exhibiting many of the same problems as the old system, and the facility staff is frustrated and angry. What is the most likely cause of the problem?

a. The new system has the same design flaws as the previous system.
b. The old system was not properly disabled and has infected the new system.
c. Underlying human and process problems were not identified and corrected prior to making a system change.
d. Human error is the cause of all of the problems with both systems.

Answer 1

The most likely cause of persistent issues with the master patient index system is the failure to identify and correct underlying human and process problems before implementing a new system. so, correct option is (c).

Step-by-step explanation:

When Medical Center Hospital encounters repeated issues with their master patient index system, including duplicate numbers and errors in patient identification information despite changing systems, the most likely cause of the problem is c. Underlying human and process problems were not identified and corrected prior to making a system change.

Transitioning to a new system without addressing the root causes of the errors—such as insufficient staff training, lack of verification procedures, or flawed data entry and management processes—can result in the persistence of original problems. Furthermore, this highlights the complexity of healthcare systems and the importance of not only healthcare providers' knowledge but also their ability to apply that knowledge correctly and consistently to prevent errors. Effective healthcare requires a combination of proper system design, consistent human performance, and continuous process improvement to ensure patient safety and accuracy in information management.

This means that the issues are not necessarily caused by the design flaws of the new system or the old system infecting the new system, but rather by problems with the way the hospital staff and processes are functioning. By not addressing these underlying problems, the new system is unable to solve the issues that were present in the old system.