Susan Colburn
Papers
1
Total Citations
52
H-Index
1
About
Dr. Susan Colburn is a leading researcher in patient safety and medication error prevention, with a particular focus on health information technology. Her most cited work, "Using a bar-coded medication administration system to prevent medication errors in a community hospital network" (2005, 52 citations), is a landmark study that demonstrated the real-world effectiveness of barcode technology in reducing adverse drug events—a leading cause of inpatient deaths. This research provided critical evidence for the widespread adoption of bar-coded medication administration (BCMA) systems across hospital networks, directly addressing the staggering 44,000–98,000 annual deaths attributed to medical errors. Dr. Colburn’s contributions have shaped clinical informatics best practices, showing how technology can serve as a safety net at the point of care. Her work remains highly influential among healthcare administrators, nurses, and informaticians seeking to build safer medication workflows. By bridging the gap between systems engineering and bedside practice, Dr. Colburn has helped transform how community hospitals approach error prevention, making her a key figure in the movement toward zero-harm healthcare environments.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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