Newsletter
A Patient Safety Survey Course
Aug 31, 2016
Even if you are not formally going back to school, September is a good time to consider what knowledge refreshment or expansion might be worthwhile. For health care providers, annually reviewing how you can minimize the risk of patient harm—and allegations of malpractice—is a good habit to get into.
If you’re not sure where to begin, then Candello’s Comparative Benchmarking System—the world’s most robust malpractice database—is a good place to start. Below is a sampling of where a deeper exploration might take you.
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Managing MedicationsWhile the impact of medication errors on malpractice has been held in check through significant technology and systems improvements, the sheer volume of medications ordered and administered keeps medication safety on the list of health care’s constant concerns. From drug ordering to patient monitoring, clinicians of all disciplines and settings remain vulnerable to medication-related missteps. Case examplesUndiluted Injection, Dosing Error Read moreMedication Safety in the ICU, Too Many Clear Liquids FAQPrescribing Over the Phone, Missing Pads or Controlled Substances |
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After an Adverse EventThe immediate aftermath of an adverse event—even if you are just learning about something that happened in the past—requires both action and restraint. While attending to the patient’s immediate health care needs, be careful not to rush the process of fully understanding what happened and—if appropriate—offering a disclosure and apology. As long as the patient or family members know that you will continue to communicate with them, they will appreciate a more thoughtful exchange than one in which you appear to be uninformed or cannot answer their questions. Read moreWhat to do After an Adverse Event, Helping Clinicians Cope after Adverse Events FAQIs an apology after an adverse event an admission of negligence? |
Clinical Decision Making
Informed Consent
Documentation
A great deal of patient safety can be boiled down to the basics of good health care: communicate carefully, avoid assumptions in the face of contrary evidence, communicate carefully, and document what your colleagues, and the patient will need to know in order to provide the safest care possible.
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