While hospitals and physicians’ offices are increasingly adopting computerized information systems, the systems are still relatively new, and research suggests they need to be improved to optimize their potential benefits.

A recent article in Focus on Patient Safety highlights the work of the Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics (CERTs), a network of research centers established in 1999 by the United States federal government to add to the evidence base on the safety and effectiveness of therapeutics—a broad category that includes drugs, medical devices, and biological products, such as vaccines. The article specifically focuses on recent CERTs research on the use of computerized information systems in health care settings.

Read or download the article.