Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare - News and analysis dedicated to healthcare improvement

Creating a Culture That Puts an End to Sexual Harassment in Healthcare

The behavior is widespread. When Medscape surveyed 6,200 physicians and clinicians in 2018 about sexual harassment incidents over the prior three years, it found 7% of physicians and 11% of nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants had experienced sexual harassment.

Enterprise Analytics: Data, Insight, Process Change, Repeat

Donabedian’s model evolved over the past five decades as greater sources of data became available through the deployment of transactional systems such as electronic medical records (EMR). In addition, advances in computing power and data storage now allow analysis of these data-rich repositories by workers not necessarily trained in traditional IT.

Using Digital Dashboards to Reduce Wait Times

Known in the industry as e-consultations, the telemedicine platforms help connect PCPs with specialists to help improve care management and care coordination for patients. The services are being touted as a cost-effective way to expand access to care and improve outcomes, as well.

Published Review of Independent Double Checks Shouldn’t Dissuade Providers From Using Them Judiciously

ISMP respectfully concludes that little evidence was provided that should cause healthcare providers to abandon the use of judicious and well-placed independent double checks for selected high-alert medications. Instead, ISMP continues to believe that the selective and proper use of manual independent double checks plays an important role in medication safety.

It’s Time for Healthcare Organizations to Take Ownership of Burnout

A June survey from the American Society of Hospital Pharmacists found 74% of U.S. adults are concerned about burnout among healthcare professionals, including nearly one in four (23%) who are very concerned. Eighty percent of Americans reported that when their doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other healthcare professional is feeling burned out, the quality of their care decreases.

The Relationship Between Supply Chain and the Frontline Clinician

The intent of this paper is to begin filling the void in the literature as to the importance of the clinician and supply chain relationship and its impact on achievement of the Quadruple Aim, and to make recommendations for alignment between frontline clinicians and the supply chain. This paper will also contend that an “invisible” healthcare supply chain represents a high-functioning, efficient supply chain as clinician needs are being met, resulting in quality care administration among other areas of impact.

Industry Focus: Evaluating Sources of Patient Experience Data

In addition to comments, there is plenty of quantitative data related to the patient experience. Most organizations, regardless of sector (long-term care, home health, emergency department, ambulatory surgery centers, clinics, hospitals) have some kind of survey related to their patients’ experiences.

Virtual Reality Could Improve Surgical Safety

Imagine a world where surgeons and their teams could practice a surgical procedure using VR software. It’s apparently here, and Osso claims to train approximately 1,000 surgeons a month using not much more than a headset that looks like a pair of goggles and two handheld controllers.

News

Medical Malpractice Rate Dropped Over 10-Year Period
by PSQH, December 6, 2019

When looking at the number of defendants per 100 physicians, the steepest decline was in OB-GYN claims with a 44% drop over 10 years. The drop is possibly attributable to focused safety efforts in labor & delivery over the last 15 years, but more research is needed.
Hospital Splits This Payroll Expense 50/50 With Local Payer to Curb ER Overuse
by HealthLeaders Media, December 6, 2019

Rather than shouldering the full cost of employing a full-time ED social worker, the hospital partnered with local insurer South Country Health Alliance. They struck a deal and signed a contract agreeing to split the personnel expense 50/50, beginning in 2012.
Hospitals Need to Brace for Upward Trend in Malpractice Claims
by HealthLeaders Media, December 4, 2019

Over the past two decades, the medical professional liability insurance marketplace has been hardening in response to higher paid claims. The evolving market is putting upward pressure on premiums and downward pressure on insurance industry capacity.
Report: Antibiotic Resistance More Prevalent in Device-Associated Infections
by PSQH, November 26, 2019

The report compiled data from more than 5,600 facilities from 2015 to 2017 and found that resistance was consistently higher for device-associated healthcare-acquired infections than for the same bacteria identified after surgical procedures. The devices studied were those used for a limited time in a hospital setting such as central lines, ventilators, and urinary catheters.
Q&A: The Impact of To Err is Human at 20
by PSQH, November 25, 2019

Since the report’s initial claim that as many as 98,000 people die annually from medical errors, there have been major strides in changing healthcare organization’s systemic problem, workplace cultures, and improvement processes.