Laboratory errors and patient safety

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawlat A. Miligy
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Laboratory Work ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Laboratory Errors ◽  
Patient Health ◽  
Test Errors

Purpose – Laboratory data are extensively used in medical practice; consequently, laboratory errors have a tremendous impact on patient safety. Therefore, programs designed to identify and reduce laboratory errors, as well as, setting specific strategies are required to minimize these errors and improve patient safety. The purpose of this paper is to identify part of the commonly encountered laboratory errors throughout our practice in laboratory work, their hazards on patient health care and some measures and recommendations to minimize or to eliminate these errors. Design/methodology/approach – Recording the encountered laboratory errors during May 2008 and their statistical evaluation (using simple percent distribution) have been done in the department of laboratory of one of the private hospitals in Egypt. Errors have been classified according to the laboratory phases and according to their implication on patient health. Findings – Data obtained out of 1,600 testing procedure revealed that the total number of encountered errors is 14 tests (0.87 percent of total testing procedures). Most of the encountered errors lay in the pre- and post-analytic phases of testing cycle (representing 35.7 and 50 percent, respectively, of total errors). While the number of test errors encountered in the analytic phase represented only 14.3 percent of total errors. About 85.7 percent of total errors were of non-significant implication on patients health being detected before test reports have been submitted to the patients. On the other hand, the number of test errors that have been already submitted to patients and reach the physician represented 14.3 percent of total errors. Only 7.1 percent of the errors could have an impact on patient diagnosis. Practical implications – The findings of this study were concomitant with those published from the USA and other countries. This proves that laboratory problems are universal and need general standardization and bench marking measures. Originality/value – Original being the first data published from Arabic countries that evaluated the encountered laboratory errors and launch the great need for universal standardization and bench marking measures to control the laboratory work.

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.

Broadening the concept of patient safety culture through value-based healthcare

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Viktor Dombrádi ◽  
Klára Bíró ◽  
Guenther Jonitz ◽  
Muir Gray ◽  
Anant Jani
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Patient Experience ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Patient Safety Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Experience Of Care ◽  
Improve Patient

PurposeDecision-makers are looking for innovative approaches to improve patient experience and outcomes with the finite resources available in healthcare. The concept of value-based healthcare has been proposed as one such approach. Since unsafe care hinders patient experience and contributes to waste, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how the value-based approach can help broaden the existing concept of patient safety culture and thus, improve patient safety and healthcare value.Design/methodology/approachIn the arguments, the authors use the triple value model which consists of personal, technical and allocative value. These three aspects together promote healthcare in which the experience of care is improved through the involvement of patients, while also considering the optimal utilisation and allocation of finite healthcare resources.FindingsWhile the idea that patient involvement should be integrated into patient safety culture has already been suggested, there is a lack of emphasis that economic considerations can play an important role as well. Patient safety should be perceived as an investment, thus, relevant questions need to be addressed such as how much resources should be invested into patient safety, how the finite resources should be allocated to maximise health benefits at a population level and how resources should be utilised to get the best cost-benefit ratio.Originality/valueThus far, both the importance of patient safety culture and value-based healthcare have been advocated; this paper emphasizes the need to consider these two approaches together.

Application of Bow-tie methodology to improve patient safety

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhaleh Abdi ◽  
Hamid Ravaghi ◽  
Mohsen Abbasi ◽  
Bahram Delgoshaei ◽  
Somayeh Esfandiari
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Blood Stream Infection ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clinical Risks ◽  
Improve Patient ◽  
Bow Tie

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to apply Bow-tie methodology, a proactive risk assessment technique based on systemic approach, for prospective analysis of the risks threatening patient safety in intensive care unit (ICU). Design/methodology/approach – Bow-tie methodology was used to manage clinical risks threatening patient safety by a multidisciplinary team in the ICU. The Bow-tie analysis was conducted on incidents related to high-alert medications, ventilator associated pneumonia, catheter-related blood stream infection, urinary tract infection, and unwanted extubation. Findings – In total, 48 potential adverse events were analysed. The causal factors were identified and classified into relevant categories. The number and effectiveness of existing preventive and protective barriers were examined for each potential adverse event. The adverse events were evaluated according to the risk criteria and a set of interventions were proposed with the aim of improving the existing barriers or implementing new barriers. A number of recommendations were implemented in the ICU, while considering their feasibility. Originality/value – The application of Bow-tie methodology led to practical recommendations to eliminate or control the hazards identified. It also contributed to better understanding of hazard prevention and protection required for safe operations in clinical settings.

scholarly journals Surgical learning and guidance on operative risks and potential errors

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 326-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minna Ruoranen ◽  
Teuvo Antikainen ◽  
Anneli Eteläpelto
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Surgical Operation ◽  
Learning From Errors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Surgical Residents ◽  
Context Of Learning ◽  
Surgical Learning ◽  
Surgical Operations

Purpose Within the framework of learning from errors, this study focused on how operative risks and potential errors are addressed in guidance to surgical residents during authentic surgical operations. The purpose of this paper is to improve patient safety and to diminish medical complications resulting from possible operating errors. Further in the process of the optimal contexts for instruction aimed at preventing risks and errors in the practical hospital environment was evaluated. Design/methodology/approach The five authentic surgical operations were analyzed, all of which were organized as training sessions for surgical residents. The data (collected via video-recoding) were analyzed by a consultant surgeon and an education expert working together. Findings The results showed that the risks and potential errors in the surgical operations were rarely addressed in guidance during operations. The guidance provided mostly concerned technical issues, such as instrument handling, and exploration of critical anatomical structures. There was little guidance focusing on situation-based risks and potential errors, such as unexpected procedural challenges, teamwork and practical decision-making. The findings showed that optimal context of learning about risks and potential errors of surgical operation are not always the authentic operation context. Originality/value The study was conducted in an authentic surgical operation-cum-training context. The originality of the study derives from its focus on guidance related to risk and error prevention in surgical workplace learning. The findings can be used to create a meaningful learning environment – including powerful guidance – for practice-based surgical learning, maximally addressing patient safety, but giving possibilities also for other training options.

Patient safety culture in Hungarian hospitals

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 412-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Granel ◽  
Josep Maria Manresa-Domínguez ◽  
Anita Barth ◽  
Katalin Papp ◽  
Maria Dolors Bernabeu-Tamayo
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Patient Safety Culture ◽  
Healthcare Staff ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Work Area ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analyses ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Blame Culture

Purpose The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPSC) is a rigorously designed tool for measuring inpatient safety culture. The purpose of this paper is to develop a cross-cultural HSOPSC for Hungary and determine its strengths and weaknesses. Design/methodology/approach The original US version was translated and adapted using existing guidelines. Healthcare workers (n=371) including nurses, physicians and other healthcare staff from six Hungarian hospitals participated. Answers were analyzed using exploratory factor analyses and reliability tests. Findings Positive responses in all dimensions were lower in Hungary than in the USA. Half the participants considered their work area “acceptable” regarding patient safety. Healthcare staff worked in “crisis mode,” trying to accomplish too much and too quickly. The authors note that a “blame culture” does not facilitate patient safety improvements in Hungary. Practical implications The results provide valuable information for promoting a more positive patient safety culture in Hungary and for evaluating future strategies to improve patient safety. Originality/value Introducing a validated scale to measure patient safety culture in Hungary improves healthcare quality.

Corrections of Clinical Chemistry Test Results in a Laboratory Information System

2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (8) ◽  
pp. 890-892
Author(s):  
Sihe Wang ◽  
Virginia Ho
Keyword(s):  
Information System ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Error Detection ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Clinical Chemistry ◽  
Laboratory Information System ◽  
Test Volume ◽  
Laboratory Errors ◽  
Made In

Abstract Context.—The recently released reports by the Institute of Medicine, To Err Is Human and Patient Safety, have received national attention because of their focus on the problem of medical errors. Although a small number of studies have reported on errors in general clinical laboratories, there are, to our knowledge, no reported studies that focus on errors in pediatric clinical laboratory testing. Objective.—To characterize the errors that have caused corrections to have to be made in pediatric clinical chemistry results in the laboratory information system, Misys. To provide initial data on the errors detected in pediatric clinical chemistry laboratories in order to improve patient safety in pediatric health care. Design.—All clinical chemistry staff members were informed of the study and were requested to report in writing when a correction was made in the laboratory information system, Misys. Errors were detected either by the clinicians (the results did not fit the patients' clinical conditions) or by the laboratory technologists (the results were double-checked, and the worksheets were carefully examined twice a day). No incident that was discovered before or during the final validation was included. On each Monday of the study, we generated a report from Misys that listed all of the corrections made during the previous week. We then categorized the corrections according to the types and stages of the incidents that led to the corrections. Results.—A total of 187 incidents were detected during the 10-month study, representing a 0.26% error detection rate per requisition. The distribution of the detected incidents included 31 (17%) preanalytic incidents, 46 (25%) analytic incidents, and 110 (59%) postanalytic incidents. The errors related to noninterfaced tests accounted for 50% of the total incidents and for 37% of the affected tests and orderable panels, while the noninterfaced tests and panels accounted for 17% of the total test volume in our laboratory. Conclusion.—This pilot study provided the rate and categories of errors detected in a pediatric clinical chemistry laboratory based on the corrections of results in the laboratory information system. A direct interface of the instruments to the laboratory information system showed that it had favorable effects on reducing laboratory errors.

scholarly journals Evaluating inputs of failure modes and effects analysis in identifying patient safety risks

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mecit Can Emre Simsekler ◽  
Gulsum Kubra Kaya ◽  
James R. Ward ◽  
P. John Clarkson
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Risk Identification ◽  
Formal Structure ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Identification Process ◽  
Safety Risks

Purpose There is a growing awareness on the use of systems approaches to improve patient safety and quality. While earlier studies evaluated the validity of such approaches to identify and mitigate patient safety risks, so far only little attention has been given to their inputs, such as structured brainstorming and use of system mapping approaches (SMAs), to understand their impact in the risk identification process. To address this gap, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the inputs of a well-known systems approach, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), in identifying patient safety risks in a real healthcare setting. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in a newly established adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder service at Cambridge and Peterborough Foundation Trust in the UK. Three stakeholders of the chosen service together with the facilitators conducted an FMEA exercise along with a particular system diagram that was initially found as the most useful SMA by eight stakeholders of the service. Findings In this study, it was found that the formal structure of FMEA adds value to the risk identification process through comprehensive system coverage with the help of the system diagram. However, results also indicates that the structured brainstorming refrains FMEA participants from identifying and imagining new risks since they follow the process predefined in the given system diagram. Originality/value While this study shows the potential contribution of FMEA inputs, it also suggests that healthcare organisations should not depend solely on FMEA results when identifying patient safety risks; and therefore prioritising their safety concerns.

scholarly journals Does electronic medication reconciliation at hospital discharge decrease prescription medication errors?

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 564-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geneve M. Allison ◽  
Bernard Weigel ◽  
Christina Holcroft
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Hospital Discharge ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Medication Reconciliation ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Safety Issue ◽  
Inpatient Service ◽  
Intravenous Antibiotic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – Medication errors are an important patient safety issue. Electronic medication reconciliation is a system designed to correct medication discrepancies at transitions in healthcare. The purpose of this paper is to measure types and prevalence of intravenous antibiotic errors at hospital discharge before and after the addition of an electronic discharge medication reconciliation tool (EDMRT). Design/methodology/approach – A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary hospital where house officers order discharge medications. In total, 100 pre-EDMRT and 100 post-EDMRT subjects were randomly recruited from the study center’s clinical Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) program. Using infectious disease consultant recommendations as gold standard, each antibiotic listed in these consultant notes was compared to the hospital discharge orders to ascertain the primary outcome: presence of an intravenous antibiotic error in the discharge orders. The primary covariate of interest was pre- vs post-EDMRT group. After generating the crude prevalence of antibiotic errors, logistic regression accounted for potential confounding: discharge day (weekend vs weekday), average years of practice by prescribing physician, inpatient service (medicine vs surgery) and number of discharge mediations per patient. Findings – Prevalence of medication errors decreased from 30 percent (30/100) among pre-EDMRT subjects to 15 percent (15/100) errors among post-EDMRT subjects. Dosage errors were the most common type of medication error. The adjusted odds ratio of discharge with intravenous antibiotic error in the post-EDMRT era was 0.39 (0.18, 0.87) compared to the pre-EDMRT era. In the adjusted model, the total number of discharge medications was associated with increased OR of discharge error. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, no other study has examined the impact of reconciliation on types and prevalence of medication errors at hospital discharge. The focus on intravenous antibiotics as a class of high-stakes medications with serious risks to patient safety during error events highlights the clinical importance of the findings. Electronic medication reconciliation may be an important tool in efforts to improve patient safety.

Reducing medication errors using lean six sigma methodology in a Thai hospital: an action research study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaifa Trakulsunti ◽  
Jiju Antony ◽  
Mary Dempsey ◽  
Attracta Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Six Sigma ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Six Sigma Methodology ◽  
Dispensing Errors

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to illustrate the use of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and its associated tools to reduce dispensing errors in an inpatient pharmacy of a teaching hospital in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThe action research methodology was used to illustrate the implementation of Lean Six Sigma through the collaboration between the researcher and participants. The project team followed the Lean Six Sigma Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) methodology and applied its tools in various phases of the methodology.FindingsThe number of dispensing errors decreased from 6 to 2 incidents per 20,000 inpatient days per month between April 2018 and August 2019 representing a 66.66% reduction. The project has improved the dispensing process performance resulting in dispensing error reduction and improved patient safety. The communication channels between the hospital pharmacy and the pharmacy technicians have also been improved.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was conducted in an inpatient pharmacy of a teaching hospital in Thailand. Therefore, the findings from this study cannot be generalized beyond the specific setting. However, the findings are applicable in the case of similar contexts and/or situations.Originality/valueThis is the first study that employs a continuous improvement methodology for the purpose of improving the dispensing process and the quality of care in a hospital. This study contributes to an understanding of how the application of action research can save patients' lives, improve patient safety and increase work satisfaction in the pharmacy service.

Shift schedule realignment and patient safety culture

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-157
Author(s):  
Made Indra Wijaya ◽  
Abd Rahim Mohamad ◽  
Muhammad Hafizurrachman
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Patient Safety Culture ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Shift Schedule ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Error Coefficient

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the association between shift schedule realignment and patient safety culture. Design/methodology/approach Using difference in differences model, BIMC Hospitals and Siloam Hospital Bali were compared before and after shift schedule realignment to test the association between shift schedule realignment and patient safety culture. Findings Shift schedule realignment was associated with a significant improvement in staffing (coefficient 1.272; 95% CI 0.842 – 1.702; p<0.001), teamwork within units (coefficient 1.689; 95% CI 1.206 – 2.171; p<0.001), teamwork across units (coefficient 1.862; 95% CI 1.415 – 2.308; p<0.001), handoffs and transitions (coefficient 0.999; 95% CI 0.616 – 1.382; p<0.001), frequency of error reported (coefficient 1.037; 95% CI 0.581 – 1.493; p<0.001), feedback and communication about error (coefficient 1.412; 95% CI 0.982 – 1.841; p<0.001) and communication openness (coefficient 1.393; 95% CI 0.968 – 1.818; p<0.001). Practical implications With positive impact on patient safety culture, shift schedule realignment should be considered as quality improvement initiative. It stretches the compressed workload suffered by staff while maintaining 40 h per week in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Originality/value Shift schedule realignment, designed to improve patient safety culture, has never been implemented in any Indonesian private hospital. Other hospital managers might also appreciate knowing about the shift schedule realignment to improve the patient safety culture.

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