Leveraging Information Technology Towards Enhancing Patient Care and a Culture of Safety in the U.S.

2003 ◽  
Vol 42 (05) ◽  
pp. 503-508 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Garets ◽  
T. J. Handler ◽  
M. J. Ball
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Culture Of Safety ◽  
Enabling Technologies ◽  
Enhance Patient Care

Summary Objectives: To heighten awareness about the critical issues currently affecting patient care and to propose solutions based on leveraging information technologies to enhance patient care and influence a culture of patient safety. Methods: Presentation and discussion of the issues affecting health care today, such as medical and medication-related errors and analysis of their root causes; proliferation of medical knowledge and medical technologies; initiatives to improve patient safety; steps necessary to develop a culture of safety; introduction of relevant enabling technologies; and evidence of results. Results and Conclusion: Medical errors affect not only mortality and morbidity, but they also create secondary costs leading to dissatisfaction by both provider and patient. Health care has been slow to acknowledge the benefits of enabling technologies to affect the quality of care. Evaluation of recent applications, such as the computerized patient record, physician order entry, and computerized alerting systems show tremendous potential to enhance patient care and influence the development of a culture focused on safety. They will also bring about changes in other areas, such as workflow and the creation of new partnerships among providers, patients, and payers.

scholarly journals Accreditation, Certification, and Licensure: How Six General Competencies are Influencing Medical Education and Patient Care

2008 ◽  
Vol 94 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Paul E. Mazmanian ◽  
Robert Galbraith ◽  
Stephen H. Miller ◽  
Paul M. Schyve ◽  
Murray Kopelow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Physician Participation ◽  
Quality And Patient Safety ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACT Lifelong learning and self-assessment are tenets of medical education and health care improvement; quality and patient safety care are essential to the accreditation of organizations providing either continuing medical education (CME) or patient care; accredited CME providers must assess the learning needs of physicians: Accredited health care organizations must document physician participation in education that relates to the nature of care, treatment and services provided by the hospital. The credentialing and privileging of medical staff requires ongoing focused professional practice evaluation based on six general competencies, including compassionate care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, effective communication, demonstrated professionalism and coordinated systems-based practice. As those charged with assessment and program evaluation are challenged to produce valid and reliable results to improve education and health care, United States licensing authorities are defining good medical practice and considering competency-based maintenance of licenses. The present paper offers a framework to advance the discussion of relative value credits for gains assessed in knowledge, competence and performance of physicians. A more synchronized and aligned consortium of medical licensing boards, specialty boards and organizations granting practice privileges is recommended to inform the design of education and physician assessment to assure quality and patient safety.

Top four types of sentinel events in Saudi Arabia during the period 2016–19

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasser Altalhi ◽  
Haifa Alnaimi ◽  
Mafaten Chaouali ◽  
Falaa Alahmari ◽  
Noor Alabdulkareem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Reporting System ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Common Root ◽  
Private Hospitals ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Sentinel Events

Abstract Background This study discusses the summary, investigation and root causes of the top four sentinel events (SEs) in Saudi Arabia (SA) that occurred between January 2016 and December 2019, as reported by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and private hospitals through the MOH SE reporting system (SERS). It is intended for use by legislators, health-care facilities and the public to shed light on areas that still need improvement to preserve patient safety. Objectives The purpose of this study is to review the most common SEs reported by the MOH and private hospitals between the years 2016 and 2019 to assess the patterns and identify risk areas and the common root causes of these events in order to promote country-wide learning and support services that can improve patient safety. Methods In this retrospective descriptive study, the data were retrieved from the SERS, which routinely collects records from both MOH and private hospitals in SA. SEs were analyzed by type of event, location, time, patient demographics, outcome and root causes. Results There were 727 SEs during this period, 38.4% of which were under the category of unexpected patient death, 19.4% under maternal death, 11.7% under unexpected loss of limb or function and 9.9% under retained instruments or sponge. Common root causes were related to policies and procedures, guidelines, miscommunication between health-care facilities, shortage of staff and lack of competencies. Conclusion Given these results, efforts should focus on improving the care of deteriorating patients in general wards, ICU (Intensive Care Units) admission/discharge criteria and maternal, child and surgical safety. The results also highlighted the problem of underreporting of SEs, which needs to be addressed and improved. Linking data sources such as claims and patient complaints databases and electronic medical records to the national reporting system must also be considered to ensure an optimal estimation of the number of events.

scholarly journals Quality Indicators of the Pre-Analytical Phase

2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Majkić-Singh ◽  
Zorica Šumarac
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Quality Indicators ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Laboratory Errors ◽  
Analytical Phase ◽  
Total Testing Process

Quality Indicators of the Pre-Analytical PhaseQuality indicatorsare tools that allow the quantification of quality in each of the segments of health care in comparison with selected criteria. They can be defined as an objective measure used to assess the critical health care segments such as, for instance, patient safety, effectiveness, impartiality, timeliness, efficiency, etc. In laboratory medicine it is possible to develop quality indicators or the measure of feasibility for any stage of the total testing process. The total process or cycle of investigation has traditionally been separated into three phases, the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phase. Some authors also include a »pre-pre« and a »post-post« analytical phase, in a manner that allows to separate them from the activities of sample collection and transportation (pre-analytical phase) and reporting (post-analytical phase). In the year 2008 the IFCC formed within its Education and Management Division (EMD) a task force calledLaboratory Errors and Patient Safety (WG-LEPS)with the aim of promoting the investigation of errors in laboratory data, collecting data and developing a strategy to improve patient safety. This task force came up with the Model of Quality Indicators (MQI) for the total testing process (TTP) including the pre-, intra- and post-analytical phases of work. The pre-analytical phase includes a set of procedures that are difficult to define because they take place at different locations and at different times. Errors that occur at this stage often become obvious later in the analytical and post-analytical phases. For these reasons the identification of quality indicators is necessary in order to avoid potential errors in all the steps of the pre-analytical phase.

Information Technology (IT) and the Healthcare Industry

2011 ◽  
pp. 65-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marilyn M. Helms ◽  
Rita Moore ◽  
Mohammad Ahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Healthcare Industry ◽  
Patient Privacy ◽  
Legal Compliance ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Use Of The Internet

The healthcare industry is under pressure to improve patient safety, operate more efficiently, reduce medical errors, and provide secure access to timely information while controlling costs, protecting patient privacy, and complying with legal guidelines. Analysts, practitioners, patients and others have concerns for the industry. Using the popular strategic analysis tool of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis (SWOT), facing the healthcare industry and its adoption of information technologies (IT) are presented. Internal strengths supporting further industry investment in IT include improved patient safety, greater operational efficiency, and current investments in IT infrastructure. Internal weaknesses, however, include a lack of information system integration, user resistance to new technologies and processes, and slow adoption of IT. External opportunities including increased use of the Internet, a favorable national environment, and a growing call for industry standards are pressured by threats of legal compliance, loss of patient trust, and high cost of IT.

scholarly journals Summary of the International Patient Safety Conference, June 28—29, 2019, Kathmandu, Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepak C. Bajracharya ◽  
Kshitij Karki ◽  
Chhiring Yangjen Lama ◽  
Rajesh Dhoj Joshi ◽  
Shankar Man Rai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
World Health ◽  
Patient Centered ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Improve Patient

AbstractGlobally, medical errors are associated with an estimated $42 billion in costs to healthcare systems. A variety of errors in the delivery of healthcare have been identified by the World Health Organization and it is believed that about 50% of all errors are preventable. Initiatives to improve patient safety are now garnering increased attention across a range of countries in all regions of the world. From June 28--29, 2019, the first International Patient Safety Conference (IPSC) was held in Kathmandu, Nepal and attended by over 200 healthcare professionals as well as hospital, government, and non-governmental organization leaders. During the conference, presentations describing the experience with errors in healthcare and solutions to minimize future occurrence of adverse events were presented. Examples of systems implemented to prevent future errors in patient care were also described. A key outcome of this conference was the initiation of conversations and communication among important stakeholders for patient safety. In addition, attendees and dignitaries in attendance all reaffirmed their commitment to furthering actions in hospitals and other healthcare facilities that focus on reducing the risk of harm to patients who receive care in the Nepali healthcare system. This conference provides an important springboard for the development of patient-centered strategies to improve patient safety across a range of patient care environments in public and private sector healthcare institutions.

All CLEAR? Preparing for IT Downtime

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 547-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deanne T. Kashiwagi ◽  
Meredie D. Sexton ◽  
C. Estelle Souchet Graves ◽  
Jay M. Johnson ◽  
Byron I. Callies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Information Technology ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Health Care Information ◽  
Care Continuity ◽  
Work Area ◽  
Health Care Information Technology ◽  
Care Information

Health care information technology (IT) outages pose a threat to patient safety and patient care continuity. Organizations’ downtime plans must be updated regularly and staff at the work area level should have experience with implementing IT outage operations through downtime drills. This article describes the study institution’s IT Outage Toolkit, based on the acronym CLEAR, which guides the development of a downtime plan as well as design, execution, and assessment of work area downtime drills. Self-report and external audits of downtime drills help identify performance gaps and gaps in downtime plans.

scholarly journals Five Topics Health Care Simulation Can Address to Improve Patient Safety

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J.M. Sollid ◽  
Peter Dieckman ◽  
Karina Aase ◽  
Eldar Søreide ◽  
Charlotte Ringsted ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Improve Patient

scholarly journals Patient safety challenges in primary health care: a scoping review

2020 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlise Rigon Dalla Nora ◽  
Mariur Gomes Beghetto
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Enhancing Resources

ABSTRACT Objectives: to identify the patient safety challenges described by health professionals in Primary Health Care. Methods: a scoping review was conducted on the LILACS, MEDLINE, IBECS, BDENF, and CINAHL databases, and on the Cochrane, SciELO, Pubmed, and Web of Science libraries in January 2019. Original articles on patient safety in the context of Primary Health Care by health professionals were included. Results: the review included 26 studies published between 2002 and 2019. Four categories resulted from the analysis: challenges of health professionals, administration challenges of health services, challenges with the patient and family, and the potential enhancing resources for patient safety. Conclusions: patient safety challenges for Primary Care professionals are multiple and complex. This study provides insight into resources to improve patient safety for health care professionals, patients, administrators, policy makers, educators, and researchers.

scholarly journals Technovigilance and risk management as tools to improve patient safety in Colombian health care institutions

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Mauricio González Vargas ◽  
Ana María Sánchez Benavides ◽  
Andrés Felipe Betancourt Hernández ◽  
Carlos David Mantilla Ramirez
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Health Care Institutions ◽  
Improve Patient

This paper presents the results of a survey about technovigilance carried out in 21 clinical institutions from the southwest of Colombia. It also provides an analysis of how these programs take into account different risk management methodologies in order to create awareness of the importance of patient safety in all members of the staff and improve the quality of the health services provided.

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