Digital Technologies for Patient Safety: Transforming Care Across the Six International Patient Safety Goals

Abstract

Patient safety is a core dimension of healthcare quality, yet preventable adverse events continue to pose a major global challenge. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly one in ten patients’ experiences harm during healthcare delivery, with approximately half of these events being preventable, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The rapid expansion of digital health technologies presents significant opportunities to strengthen patient safety systems across care settings. This review examines the role of digital technologies in improving patient safety, structured around the six International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs). Key innovations discussed include electronic health records, barcode and biometric patient identification, clinical decision support systems, computerized provider order entry, smart infusion devices, telehealth platforms, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics. Evidence from recent global reports and peer‑reviewed literature highlights how these technologies contribute to error prevention, improved communication, safer medication practices, infection control, fall prevention, and enhanced surgical safety. The article also addresses emerging challenges such as data privacy concerns, algorithmic bias, alert fatigue, and financial and organizational barriers to implementation. Emphasis is placed on the critical role of nurses as frontline users, coordinators, and leaders in digital patient safety initiatives. Strategic investment, interdisciplinary collaboration, and robust governance are essential to ensure that digital transformation translates into measurable improvements in patient safety outcomes.