6 Patient Safety Tips for Hospitals

The complexity of the health care system requires the need for quality and safety standards to minimize preventable medical errors. Following evidence-based practices to reduce errors is a critical component in maintaining patient safety in hospital settings.

Patient Safety Assessment

To improve the efficacy of the organization’s safety plan, it is important to first evaluatecurrent hospital patient safety culture. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) provides a staff survey tool that can be utilized to measure the effectiveness of current interventions utilized. The impact of hospital practices on safety outcomes can be tracked over time using this data. Methods for ensuring continued safety for patients can be implemented and reassessed using this helpful standardized tool.

Medication Safety

Hospitals can utilize digital drug information made available at the point of care to effectively reduce potential medication errors. Implementing a computerized provider order entry system allows medication orders to be entered directly into the system and sent electronically to the patient’s pharmacy. This standardized method ensures legible, complete orders and can help to significantly reduce errors from the onset.For pharmacists, work spaces should be conducive to filling prescriptions without environmental distractions.

Bar CodedWristbands

Implementing a positive patient identification systemis a significant way to improve patient safety in hospital settings. Bar coded wristbands provide a comprehensive way to improve accuracy of patient identification, and thereforeaccurate administration of medication and appropriate treatment for patients. The system not only identifies patients before any treatment is provided, but stores relevant patient information to allow clinicians to efficiently and effectively administer patient care.Bar coding can include all critical individual information including patient allergies, fall alerts and DNR orders.

Limited Shift Durations

Fatigue among physicians is an important considerationin regard to patient safety. Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive function and performance, and medical errors are more likely to occur when medical personnel are not well rested. Hospital systems can strive to eliminate consecutive 30-hour shifts, and establish appropriate work schedules for physicians and nurses. Call schedule policies and practices should reflect both continuity of care for patients and medical team wellness to support optimal patient care.

Fall Prevention

Falls are the most common safety incident occurring in hospitals. Decreasing the number of falls and reducing the risk of injury related to falls for patientsrequires a risk-prediction and management plan. Identifying patient risk for falls, as well as educating patients, family members and staff about falls is an important part of a prevention program. Hospitals can strive to prevent patient falls by implementing standard safety measures. Providing well-designed rooms and bathrooms for patients, along with nurses’ stations that allow easy access to patients are important considerations in minimizing patient risk for falls.

Avoiding Hospital –Acquired Infections

Health care-associated infections are a common complication for hospital patients.Simple measures can be taken to prevent the majority of infections patients acquire during their hospital stay and to reduce resulting readmission rates. Hand hygiene, appropriate insertion site selection and prompt removal of catheters are just a few of the important identified clinical practices that can reduce the rate of hospital-acquired infections. Additionally, offering single bed rooms for patients, improving air filtration systems, and providing convenient hand washing stations throughout the facility can support a reduced infection rate within the hospital setting.

Utilizing a systems-approachto address safety within hospitals can greatly improve outcomes. Atrained staff that

communicates well, provides rapid-responsecare, and functions as an integrative team is an important part of reducing

medical errors and improving patient safety.

About Author:

Endur ID was founded in 2003. We entered into the Patient Identification Market with the goal to manufacture and

distribute the finest hospital Wristband and card Media available. Endur ID offers hospital wristbands that are durable,

easy to use, and easy to wear and are produced using standard desktop laser printers. But we will not rest there—we

will continue to develop new and innovative patient safety products. Endur ID depends on your feedback for

development and we always listen. For more information please visit http://www.endurid.com

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