Analysis—Regularly assess, evaluate, and interpret metrics, functionalities, usability, and impact to determine effectiveness and value while balancing and minimizing burden

Optimization—Maximize the use of technology and various tools to create and promote effective, targeted, relevant, and routinely updated alerts


The workgroup drew on the expertise of its members and external subject matter experts, an ECRI-conducted evidence-based literature review, and analysis of pertinent patient safety data submitted to the ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices Patient Safety Organization (PSO) and partner PSOs between January 2019 and February 2020.

“For a majority of the PSO events we analyzed, the alert did not function as expected,” says workgroup co-chair Robert Giannini, NHA, CHTS-IM/CP, patient safety analyst and consultant, ECRI. “An alert that isn’t as effective as intended puts patients at risk and contributes to clinician burden.”

ECRI’s Partnership for Health IT Patient Safety, funded in part with financial support from The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, was founded in 2013 and wrapped up in December 2020. All of the Partnership’s findings and safe practice recommendations and toolkits are available on ECRI’s website and at www.hitsafety.org.


About ECRI
ECRI is an independent, nonprofit organization improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care across all healthcare settings. With a focus on patient safety, evidence-based medicine, and health technology decision solutions, ECRI is respected and trusted by healthcare leaders and agencies worldwide. Over the past fifty years, ECRI has built its reputation on integrity and disciplined rigor, with an unwavering commitment to independence and strict conflict-of-interest rules.

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