Improving Hand Hygiene Requires a Multi-Modal Approach
The key to implementing a winning hand hygiene strategy is to take a multimodal approach. Combining direct observation, just-in-time coaching and an electronic compliance monitoring system are effective solutions.
Patient Safety Initiatives for Blood Clot Prevention
By: Susannah Noel Protecting patients from blood clots With the global coronavirus pandemic causing heightened focus on patient care, we’re highlighting patient safety in hospitals. A top way to avoid unnecessary complications and deaths is to work on preventing blood clots — or venous thromboembolisms (VTE). Every year, 350,000 to 600,000 people are affected by VTE, which … Continued
IHI Rolls Out New National Action Plan for Patient Safety
The plan is designed to provide health systems with advice and directions based on evidence-based practices, case studies, interventions, and new innovations. The report, Safer Together: A National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety, was put together with the input of 27 federal agencies, safety organizations and experts, and patient and family advocates.
Avoid Punitive Approach to Your Safety Event Reporting
The co-authors of the recent research article, which was published in Annals of Emergency Medicine, conclude that safety event reporting regimes that focus on punishing individuals are self-defeating.
Combine Surgery Checklists to Boost Patient Safety and Clinical Outcomes
Patient safety has been a pressing issue in healthcare since 1999, with the publication of the landmark report To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System. Despite two decades of attention, estimates of annual patient deaths due to medical errors have risen steadily to as many as 440,000 lives, a figure that was reported in the Journal of Patient Safety in 2013.
A Winning Strategy to Improve Hand Hygiene
By: Megan J. DiGiorgio & Lori Moore With all of the emphasis on hand hygiene and HAI reduction, it would seem that healthcare workers (HCW) would know how and when they should perform hand hygiene. But, this assumption couldn’t be farther from the truth. HCWs can probably list a few or most of the indications … Continued
Understanding the New Joint Commission Requirements for Maternal Patient Safety
Many factors have contributed to the rise in maternal mortality, including the increase in complex comorbidities in expecting mothers such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cardiac disease. There has also been disagreement on the best approach to manage maternal patients, from creating a single oxytocin checklist to detailing more complex processes for managing preeclampsia.
Physician Shortage Projected to Worsen Through 2033
The projected shortage of physicians is worsening. Last year, the AAMC projected the shortfall of physicians at as many as 122,000 by 2032. The new report released today projects the shortfall at as many as 139,000 physicians by 2033.
Keeping Patients Safe: How Has the Patient Safety Movement Evolved in the U.S.?
Patient safety culture is a cornerstone of healthcare quality. Fostering patient safety culture requires an understanding of an organization’s values, beliefs, and norms. Furthermore, it requires an understanding of the appropriate attitudes and behaviors related to patient safety.
We Need Your Input on Patient Safety
We are pleased to invite you to participate in a brief survey that examines patient safety and quality improvement. Please help us learn more about the state of patient safety by taking a few minutes to complete the survey.