Introduction of a new electronic medical records (EMR) system at Sutter corporation East Bay hospitals has produced multiple problems with safe care delivery that has put patients at risk, charged the California Nurses Association (CNA).

In more than 100 reports submitted by RNs at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center facilities in Berkeley and Oakland Calif., nurses cited a variety of serious problems with the new system from the Verona, Wis.-based health IT vendor, Epic Systems. The reports are in union forms RNs submit to management documenting assignments they believe to be unsafe.

Patient care concerns included computerized delays in timely administration of medications and contact with physicians, ability to properly monitor patients, and other delays in treatment.

Many noted that the excessive amount of time required to interact with the computer system, inputting and accessing data, sharply cuts down on time they can spend with patients with frequent complaints from patients about not seeing their RN.