Healthcare: process oriented

The application of FIACCP is mandated for Food and Drink GMPs, and the FDA is exploring its further use for pharmaceutical and healthcare GMPs. It provides a process-orientated approach to identifying and reducing known and potential hazards to an acceptable level. The technique is not specifically intended for computer systems but its principles can be applied with a little modification (see Figure 8.6). 

Thus several of these researchers have begun to think about designing process-oriented healthcare information systems that adjust naturally to changes in resources and organizational structures. Computer-interpretable models based on clinical workflows have already been implemented within the context of specific different fields, such as stroke and cancer therapy. A snapshot of part of an automated laboratory workflow is in Table 7.1.2 These authors as well as others have considered special kinds of networks for healthcare workflow that issue simple reminders and serve as an organizer in a healthcare office environment in which duties are widely shared. 

The use of HAZOP to assess healthcare and HIT risks is less well documented than with FMEA. This may reflect the technique s orientation towards the analysis of ordered and predictable processes which are characteristics that cannot be assumed in a healthcare setting. However, if one were able to construct a useful and relevant set of guidewords and parameters, careful application of the technique along with other systematic methods could prove fruitful. 

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