Electronic health records (EHRs) and health information technologies (IT) have been widely implemented to enhance safe care delivery, despite weaknesses linked to systems and user experience. This review explores the evidence on health IT implementation and design challenges that have hindered progress, recommends ways to address these issues, and highlights the potential benefits if EHRs are fully utilized.

A critical element in managing medical errors, the duty to disclose is endorsed as a key safety practice by the National Quality Forum. This commentary focuses on the disclosure of near misses or nonharmful errors, which are situations when providers typically feel less inclined to disclose. The authors offer a working definition of patient harm before providing a compelling discussion that advocates for greater reporting of nonharmful events to patients and to formal reporting systems. Recommendations for how to disclose errors are also shared along with rationale for why an open disclosure approach can lead to improved patient care. A past AHRQ WebM&M perspective and interview discussed different facets of error disclosure.