Mix-Ups Between Epidural Analgesia and IV Antibiotics in L&D Units Continue to Cause Harm
These mix-ups mimic previously published events and have similar contributing factors, including look-alike infusion bags, overlooked warning labels, and a point-of-care barcode medication administration system that was not fully engaged. However, unlike the prior events, drug shortages also played a role in the most recent errors.
Fluoroscopy-Associated Skin Reactions: Lessons From the VHA Root Cause Analysis Database
These complex procedures, while beneficial to the patient, are often lengthy and can lead to prolonged fluoroscopic cumulative exposures even when efforts are made to protect the patient from radiation. Affected patients can develop skin reactions ranging from mild erythema to extensive soft tissue injury necessitating major plastic surgery.
Believing Is Seeing
Business-to-consumer industries know how to collect data and turn it into information that prompts us to do things, including buying products and securing services. In some cases, these prompts are helpful (e.g., using Waze to display the best driving route and point out the nearest Dunkin’ Donuts).
Returning the Primary Care Physician to the Heart of Patient Care
With the renewed focus on supporting primary care, it’s possible that the concept of the patient-centered medical home model—which is defined by placing primary care near the center of a collaborative healthcare team focused on the patient’s complete wellness—may finally be seeing its time.
Mass Evacuations: Using TRAIN Matrix to Triage Patients
Sharp HealthCare has been working with other community organizations as part of a healthcare coalition in the San Diego area to improve communication during emergencies like wildfires, which can necessitate quick evacuations.
Transforming Patient Care: 5 Nurse Leaders Offer Insight
The changing role of nursing may sound daunting, but nurse leaders don’t have to go it alone. They can rely on their peers to learn best practices in redesigning care delivery. Learning from peers is exactly what took place at the 2018 HealthLeaders CNO Exchange in Charleston, South Carolina, where 35 nursing and patient experience executives gathered in roundtable sessions that addressed transforming patient care and experience.
Remembering Winter Storm Jonas
To prepare for the storm, Taylor and his colleagues conducted a brainstorming session with the director of facilities planning to identify a list of potential spaces that could be converted into sleeping areas, ranking their convertibility from easy to difficult.
Nurses Create Escape Room to Increase Sepsis Awareness
The original idea for the escape room started in 2017 when Lauren McPeake, RN, BSN, created a simulation-based escape room to educate the nurses on her geriatric unit on the care of sepsis.
Tapping Patient Engagement to Reduce Diagnostic Errors
In this installment of PSQH Monthly Spotlight, we examine how patient engagement is used to cut down on diagnostic errors, which impact about 12 million adult outpatients each year.
Incoming EPA rule will change the game on hazardous waste pharmaceuticals
Under the changes first proposed in September 2015, EPA is creating a new subpart P under RCRA that manages hazardous waste pharmaceuticals across a wide array of industries, including hospitals, physician offices, ambulatory care, and other providers who “distribute, sell, or dispense pharmaceuticals, including over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, homeopathic drugs, or prescription pharmaceuticals,” according to the EPA.