Acute care disruptions due to information technology failures in the Netherlands from 2000 to 2020

Background and aim

Healthcare organizations are becoming increasingly dependent on Information technology (IT) for the provision of routine services. IT failures within hospital systems can impact acute patient care, including emergency department (ED) closure operating room (OR) stops.. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the impact of hospital IT failures in the Netherlands on acute care delivery and to provide recommendations for improved IT failure preparedness and hospital resilience during such an event.

Methods

This is a systematic scoping review of major acute care disruptions in Dutch hospitals between 2000 and 2020. Incidence of etiology, duration, ED diversion, and closure of multiple locations was evaluated. IT failures were included when associated with the closure of hospital departments and/or evacuations.

Results

Thirty-nine IT failures resulting in acute care disruption were identified. The majority occurred between 2010 and 2020 (n = 37, 95 %). Of the 39 events, 33 (85 %) were primary IT failures and were mainly caused by computer network and/or hospital software failure. Secondary events predominantly resulted from power failure. Most events (n = 36, 92 %) were resolved within minutes to hours. All events were associated with an ED closure, 27 (69 %) with an operating room (OR) stop and two (5 %) with external hospital evacuation of one or more patients. Furthermore, 17 incidents (44 %) involved multiple hospital locations, and seven (41 %) of these involved closure of multiple locations with an ED.

Conclusion

The impact of IT failures on acute care disruptions in the Netherlands has considerably increased since 2010. This stresses the urge to improve IT security and business continuity in today's hospitals.