Computers driving the hospital of the future

All over Michigan, hospitals and doctor networks are investing millions in technology, a push also being made by the federal government.
Patients at some of the state's largest health systems over the next few years, for example, will have hospital rooms wired into a computer system that lets them see their vital signs, medicines and the name and photograph of the hospital staffer who enters their room. The systems spot medication errors, alert staffers to patients with drug allergies and send out alerts about the federal drug safety and recall alerts. The federal government will use $2.73 billion in bonuses to entice more health providers to install and upgrade electronic medical record systems -- or face reductions in their Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements by 2015.