Editor’s Notebook: A Strange Alchemy
Prague was the European center of alchemy in the Middle Ages and, in April, was the host city for a conference that featured experiments in the application of alchemy to healthcare improvement. Or so it seems in retrospect.
The DUN Factor: The Six Factors of Communication Risk
The U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and most of Western Europe are increasingly multi-racial, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual.
The DUN Factor: How Communication Complicates the Patient Safety Movement
The medical profession is legendary for applying linear logic and scientific method to any problem it faces, whether it is a disease or the current center of attention — patient safety.
Consumers as Partners: Building a Global Network of Consumer Partners
In October 2004, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety (World Alliance) to raise awareness and political commitment to improve the safety of care and to facilitate the development of patient safety policy and practice in all WHO member states.
Pathologist Review: Quality, Assurance, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Patient Care
Clinical laboratory tests and anatomic pathology diagnoses affect the vast majority of treatment decisions made by clinical physicians in nearly every medical discipline, impacting nearly every person seeking medical care.
Technology and Quality: Can We Deliver Quality Care Without Universal Coverage?
No country in the world spends more money on healthcare than the U.S. Surpassing 15% of our GDP, we believe our spending on healthcare buys us the most advanced technology and best trained physicians while delivering miraculous outcomes.
Six Sigma and Change Management: Reducing Hospital-Acquired Pressure Ulcers
Pressure ulcers or PrUs represent a serious problem for patients within the acute care setting, and a significant care management challenge for clinicians. Also known as bed sores, pressure ulcers…
Q & A: Directing a Medical Simulation Center
Sharon Denning, M.S., R.N., C.N.A., is the director of the HealthPartners Simulation Center. In this interview, she discusses her decision to make the transition from her nursing career to become the Center’s director, shares her views on…
Perspective: Improving Patient Safety with Business Intelligence
Patient safety has always been a serious matter in healthcare. After all, it is called health “care” for a reason. What has changed over the past few years is the degree of scrutiny applied to clinical organizations regarding patient safety records and the public’s demand for improvement.
Naval Aviation Safety and Its Application to Medicine
Around 400 B.C., Hippocrates penned his famous oath binding himself to an unwavering commitment to his patients’ well-being. Throughout history and today, medical institutions have adopted the Oath of Hippocrates as proclamation of their dedication to compassionate and skilled patient care.