Pre-analytical specimen labelling and processing errors in the ICU

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (S5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Long Nguyen ◽  
Sherissa Microys
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Learning System ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Laboratory Manual ◽  
Analytical Error ◽  
Ottawa Hospital ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Processing Errors ◽  
Error Reports

Introduction: Specimen rejections have been associated with increased in-hospital stay and cost. The majority of errors occur in the pre-analytic phase. Specimen rejection can lead to high rate of recollection, delay in result availability, and high rate of test abandonment. These factors affect patient care and safety. Methods: This study conducted a retrospective review of Patient Safety Learning System (PSLS) reports for the intensive care unit (ICU) at The Ottawa Hospital General Campus (TOH) between 2010 and 2018, and a prospective review using interviews, surveys, and process mapping. Results: From 2098 PSLS reports, 52.6% were related to laboratory specimen collection and processing (pre-analytic phase). Specimen mislabelling with the wrong patient identifier accounted for 9.8% of pre-analytical error reports, while 16.4% of errors were due to non-sufficient quantity (NSQ) of specimen. 12.2 % of pre-analytical error reports involved cytology specimens. Conclusions: Pre-analytical errors are not only costly and resource draining, but may also place a burden on patients.  Areas where errors were found include labels and requisitions stored in bedside cabinets, inconsistencies between specimen labels and requisitions, out-dated and difficult to access laboratory manuals, and non-sufficient quantity specimen collection. In the future we hope to start new initiatives to tackle these issues to improve patient safety and hospital efficiencies. This includes the development of a website for the laboratory manual, so that it is more easily accessible and user-friendly. With a new electronic medical record (EMR) system at TOH in 2019, we will explore the affects of pre-analytical processing of specimens. 

scholarly journals A mixed methods analysis of lithium-related patient safety incidents in primary care

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204209862092274
Author(s):  
Richard Simon Young ◽  
Paul Deslandes ◽  
Jennifer Cooper ◽  
Huw Williams ◽  
Joyce Kenkre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Contributory Factors ◽  
Safety Incident ◽  
Patient Safety Incidents ◽  
Dispensing Errors

Background: Lithium is a drug with a narrow therapeutic range and has been associated with a number of serious adverse effects. This study aimed to characterise primary care lithium-related patient safety incidents submitted to the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) database with respect to incident origin, type, contributory factors and outcome. The intention was to identify ways to minimise risk to future patients by examining incidents with a range of harm outcomes. Methods: A mixed methods analysis of patient safety incident reports related to lithium was conducted. Data from healthcare organisations in England and Wales were extracted from the NRLS database. An exploratory descriptive analysis was undertaken to characterise the most frequent incident types, the associated chain of events and other contributory factors. Results: A total of 174 reports containing the term ‘lithium’ were identified. Of these, 41 were excluded and, from the remaining 133 reports, 138 incidents were identified and coded. Community pharmacies reported 100 incidents (96 dispensing related, two administration, two other), general practitioner (GP) practices filed 22 reports and 16 reports originated from other sources. A total of 99 dispensing-related incidents were recorded, 39 resulted from the wrong medication dispensed, 31 the wrong strength, 8 the wrong quantity and 21 other. A total of 128 contributory factors were identified overall; for dispensing incidents, the most common related to medication storage/packaging ( n = 41), and ‘mistakes’ ( n = 22), whereas no information regarding contributory factors was provided in 41 reports. Conclusion: Despite the established link between medication packaging and the risk of dispensing errors, our study highlighted storage and packaging as the most commonly described contributory factors to dispensing errors. The absence of certain relevant data limited the ability to fully characterise a number of reports. This highlighted the need to include clear and complete information when submitting reports. This, in turn, may help to better inform the further development of interventions designed to reduce the risk of incidents and improve patient safety.

10. Designing an online curriculum supporting risk management and patient safety

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
T. Gondocz ◽  
G. Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Medical Education ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Online Curriculum ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Not For Profit ◽  
Managing Risk

The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) is a not for profit mutual defence organization with a mandate to provide medico-legal assistance to physician members and to educate health professionals on managing risk and enhancing patient safety. To expand the outreach to its 72,000 member physicians, the CMPA built an online learning curriculum of risk management and patient safety materials in 2006. These activities are mapped to the real needs of members ensuring the activities are relevant. Eight major categories were developed containing both online courses and articles. Each course and article is mapped to the RCPSC's CanMEDS roles and the CFPC's Four Principles. This poster shares the CMPA’s experience in designing an online patient safety curriculum within the context of medico-legal risk management and provides an inventory of materials linked to the CanMEDS roles. Our formula for creation of an online curriculum included basing the educational content on real needs of member physicians; using case studies to teach concepts; and, monitoring and evaluating process and outcomes. The objectives are to explain the benefits of curricular approach for course planning across the continuum in medical education; outline the utility of the CanMEDS roles in organizing the risk management and patient safety medical education curriculum; describe the progress of CMPA's online learning system; and, outline the potential for moving the curriculum of online learning materials and resources into medical schools.

Analisis Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Penerapan Surgical Safety Checklist Di Kamar Operasi Rumah Sakit Kota Batam

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 456
Author(s):  
Endang Yuliati ◽  
Hema Malini ◽  
Sri Muharni
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Standard Procedure ◽  
City Hospital ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Surgical Safety Checklist ◽  
Surgical Safety

<p><em><em>The use of the Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) is associated with improving patient care according to nursing process standards includes the quality of work of the operating room nurse team. The form of professionalism in the operating room is how the application of a surgical safety checklist as the standard procedure for patient safety in the operating room. This study aims to determine the relationship of characteristics, knowledge, and motivation of nurses in the application of the surgical safety checklist in the operating room of a Batam city hospital. This research is quantitative using an observational analytic research design. This study was conducted on 67 nurses who were taken by total sampling. This research was conducted in three Batam City Hospitals, with hospital accreditation at the same level. Data were analysed by univariate and bivariate using the chi-square test. The results of the study found that most nurses had education at diploma level, with a working period experiences of &gt; 6 months (82%); good knowledge (53.7%) with low motivation (57.7%). There is a relationship between education (p = 0.042); length of work experience (p = 0.010); knowledge (p = 0.002); and motivation (p = 0.05) with the application of SSC. It is expected that health services carry out SSC following the applicable SOPs in the Hospital so that it can reduce work accident rates and improve patient safety.</em></em></p><p><em><br /></em></p><p><em>Penerapan Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) berhubungan langsung dengan kualitas asuhan keperawatan yang termasuk adalah bagaimana perawat menerapkan fungsi sebagai bagian dari kamar operasi. Bentuk profesionalisme ini menjadi standar bagaimana kemampuan perawat menerapakan SSC. Tujuan penelitian adalah mengetahui hubungan karakteristik perawat, pengetahuan dan motivasi dengan penerapan SSC di kamar operasi. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain kuantitatif Cross Sectional dengan jumlah sampel 67 orang perawat kamar operasi. Data dianalisa dengan distribusi frekuensi dan uji hubungan bivariat. Didapatkan penerapan SSC perawat kota Batam masih kurang baik, dengan faktor yang mempunyai hubungan adalah Pendidikan, pelatihan dan pengetahuan. Diharapkan perawat mampu menerapkan SSC sesuai dengan Standar pelaksanaan fungsi perawat dikamar operasi.</em></p>

scholarly journals Writing’s on the wall: improving the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e001086
Author(s):  
Claire Cushley ◽  
Tom Knight ◽  
Helen Murray ◽  
Lawrence Kidd
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Surgical Safety Checklist ◽  
Surgical Safety ◽  
Time Out ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Who Checklist ◽  
Improve Patient ◽  
Theatre Team

Background and problemThe WHO Surgical Safety Checklist has been shown to improve patient safety as well as improving teamwork and communication in theatres. In 2009, it was made a mandatory requirement for all NHS hospitals in England and Wales. The WHO checklist is intended to be adapted to suit local settings and was modified for use in Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. In 2018, it was decided to review the use of the adapted WHO checklist and determine whether improvements in compliance and engagement could be achieved.AimThe aim was to achieve 90% compliance and engagement with the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist by April 2019.MethodsIn April 2018, a prospective observational audit and online survey took place. The results showed compliance for the ‘Sign In’ section of the checklist was 55% and for the ‘Time Out’ section was 91%. Engagement by the entire theatre team was measured at 58%. It was proposed to move from a paper checklist to a wall-mounted checklist, to review and refine the items in the checklist and to change the timing of ‘Time Out’ to ensure it was done immediately prior to knife-to-skin.ResultsFollowing its introduction in September 2018, the new wall-mounted checklist was reaudited. Compliance improved to 91% for ‘Sign In’ and to 94% for ‘Time Out’. Engagement by the entire theatre team was achieved 100% of the time. Feedback was collected, adjustments made and the new checklist was rolled out in stages across all theatres. A reaudit in December 2018 showed compliance improved further, to 99% with ‘Sign In’ and to 100% with ‘Time Out’. Engagement was maintained at 100%.ConclusionsThe aim of the project was met and exceeded. Since April 2019, the new checklist is being used across all theatres in the Trust.

scholarly journals OR and ICU teams ‘running in parallel’ at the end of cardiothoracic surgery improves perceptions of handoff safety

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e001001
Author(s):  
Safraz Hamid ◽  
Frederic Joyce ◽  
Aaliya Burza ◽  
Billy Yang ◽  
Alexander Le ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Cardiac Surgery ◽  
Safety Culture ◽  
Positive Response ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
Health Care Research ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Patient Safety Culture ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Surgery Patient

The transfer of a cardiac surgery patient from the operating room (OR) to the intensive care unit (ICU) is both a challenging process and a critical period for outcomes. Information transferred between these two teams—known as the ‘handoff’—has been a focus of efforts to improve patient safety. At our institution, staff have poor perceptions of handoff safety, as measured by low positive response rates to questions found in the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS). In this quality improvement project, we developed a novel handoff protocol after cardiac surgery where we invited the ICU nurse and intensivist into the OR to receive a face-to-face handoff from the circulating nurse, observe the final 30 min of the case, and participate in the end-of-case debrief discussions. Our aim was to increase the positive response rates to handoff safety questions to meet or surpass the reported AHRQ national averages. We used plan, do, study, act cycles over the course of 123 surgical cases to test how our handoff protocol was leading to changes in perceptions of safety. After a 10-month period, we achieved our aim for four out of the five HSOPS questions assessing safety of handoff. Our results suggest that having an ICU team ‘run in parallel’ with the cardiac surgical team positively impacts safety culture.

scholarly journals Understanding safety in healthcare: the system evolution, erosion and enhancement model

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Carthey
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Human Error ◽  
Improve Patient Safety ◽  
New Model ◽  
System Evolution ◽  
Accident Causation ◽  
System Migration ◽  
Improve Patient

The paper summarises previous theories of accident causation, human error, foresight, resilience and system migration. Five lessons from these theories are used as the foundation for a new model which describes how patient safety emerges in complex systems like healthcare: the System Evolution Erosion and Enhancement model. It is concluded that to improve patient safety, healthcare organisations need to understand how system evolution both enhances and erodes patient safety.

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