scholarly journals Standardized Handoffs After Pediatric Residency: Retention of Practices and Perceived Importance

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Eva Seligman ◽  
Thuy Ngo
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Errors ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Advanced Practice ◽  
Practice Setting ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
Pediatric Residency ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Enhance Patient Safety

The I-PASS Handoff Program is linked to reduced medical errors. The enduring handoff practices of residency graduates trained in I-PASS, and attitudes thereof, are unknown. Our objective was to investigate how often residency graduates use I-PASS or other handoff tools, and perspectives regarding standardized handoffs beyond residency. We performed an exploratory electronic survey of residency graduates from programs who participated in the original I-PASS study. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Of the 106 respondents, 64/106 (60%) identified as “attendings” and the remainder of respondents were subspeciality fellows. The most common practice setting was the inpatient hospital setting, 42/106 (39%). Regarding handoff use, 61/106 (58%) “rarely” or “never” used standardized handoffs. Of those using handoffs, 13/76 (17%) used I-PASS and 59/76 (78%) used a personal system. Most (95/101, 94%) were unaware of any dedicated handoff training or reported it did not exist for attendings, although 77/106 (73%) endorsed their importance for attendings. Despite rigorous residency training and belief in its importance, over one third of graduates did not use standardized handoffs. System-wide requirements for standardized handoffs may improve communication among all providers including physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses, and enhance patient safety.

scholarly journals Malpractice Claimed Calls within the Swedish Healthcare Direct: A Descriptive – Comparative Case Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annica Bjorkman ◽  
Maria Engström ◽  
Ulrika Winblad ◽  
Inger K Holmström
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Errors ◽  
Work Groups ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Computerized Decision Support ◽  
Malpractice Claims ◽  
Enhance Patient Safety

Abstract Background: Medical errors are reported as a malpractice claim, and it is of uttermost importance to learn from the errors to enhance patient safety. The Swedish national telephone helpline SHD is staffed by registered nurses; its aim is to provide qualified healthcare advice for all residents of Sweden; it handles about 5 million calls annually. The aim of the present study was twofold: to describe all malpractice claims and healthcare providers’ reported measures regarding calls to Swedish Healthcare Direct (SHD) during the period January 2011-December 2018 and to compare these findings with results from a previous study covering the period 2003-2010.Methods: The study used a descriptive and comparative design. A total sample of all reported malpractice claims regarding calls to SHD (n=35) made during the period 2011-2018 was retrieved. Data were analysed and compared with all reported medical errors during the period 2003-2010 (n=33). Results: Telephone nurses’ failure to follow the computerized decision support system (CDSS) (n=18) was identified as the main reason for error during the period 2011-2018, while failure to listen to the caller (n=12) was the main reason during the period 2003-2010. Staff education (n=21) and listening to one’s own calls (n=16) were the most common measures taken within the organization during the period 2011-2018, compared to discussion in work groups (n=13) during the period 2003-2010.Conclusion: The proportion of malpractice claims in relation to all patient contacts to SHD is still very low; it seems that only the most severe patient injuries are reported. The fact that telephone nurses’ failure to follow the CDSS is the most common reason for error is notable, as SHD and healthcare organizations stress the importance of using the CDSS to enhance patient safety. The healthcare organizations seem to have adopted a more systematic approach to handling malpractice claims regarding calls, e.g., allowing telephone nurses to listen to their own calls instead of having discussions in work groups in response to events. This enables nurses to understand the latent factors contributing to error and provides a learning opportunity.

scholarly journals Process Failures That Increase the Risk of Infection Through Respiratory Droplets: A Study of Patient Safety Events Reported by Hospitals Across Pennsylvania

2020 ◽  
pp. 10-23
Author(s):  
Amy Harper ◽  
Elizabeth Kukielka ◽  
Rebecca Jones
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Enhance Patient Safety ◽  
Respiratory Droplets ◽  
Process Failures

Respiratory pathogens can lead to pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and death. Rapid identification, along with appropriate standard and isolation precautions, are necessary to prevent the spread of infectious agents causing respiratory infections. We analyzed patient safety events reported to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System that were related to viruses and bacteria spread through respiratory droplets. An analysis of events that occurred from January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2019, led to the identification of 338 events involving process failures related to recognizing infectious agents that are spread through respiratory droplets, implementing measures to prevent their spread, or providing timely treatment. Detailed analysis of the process failures showed that 54.9% were associated with processes in testing or processing of laboratory specimens; 29.7% were associated with isolation-related procedures; and 15.4% were associated with medications, triage/assessment, documentation/verbal communication, or not providing the standard of care for patients in missed/delayed orders, procedures, or referrals. Implementation of risk-reduction strategies can help to further reduce the spread of pathogens through respiratory droplets in the hospital setting and further enhance patient safety. These strategies include evaluating collection processes for testing/laboratory specimens, consistently using empiric isolation precautions based on initial triage and patient presentation, and evaluating processes for admissions and transfers.

scholarly journals Malpractice claimed calls within the Swedish Healthcare Direct: a descriptive – comparative case study

BMC Nursing ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annica Björkman ◽  
Maria Engström ◽  
Ulrika Winblad ◽  
Inger K. Holmström
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Errors ◽  
Work Groups ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Computerized Decision Support ◽  
Malpractice Claims ◽  
Enhance Patient Safety

Abstract Background Medical errors are reported as a malpractice claim, and it is of uttermost importance to learn from the errors to enhance patient safety. The Swedish national telephone helpline SHD is staffed by registered nurses; its aim is to provide qualified healthcare advice for all residents of Sweden; it handles normally about 5 million calls annually. The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have increased call volume with approximate 30%. The aim of the present study was twofold: to describe all malpractice claims and healthcare providers’ reported measures regarding calls to Swedish Healthcare Direct (SHD) during the period January 2011–December 2018 and to compare these findings with results from a previous study covering the period January 2003–December 2010. Methods The study used a descriptive, retrospective and comparative design. A total sample of all reported malpractice claims regarding calls to SHD (n = 35) made during the period 2011–2018 was retrieved. Data were analysed and compared with all reported medical errors during the period 2003–2010 (n = 33). Results Telephone nurses’ failure to follow the computerized decision support system (CDSS) (n = 18) was identified as the main reason for error during the period 2011–2018, while failure to listen to the caller (n = 12) was the main reason during the period 2003–2010. Staff education (n = 21) and listening to one’s own calls (n = 16) were the most common measures taken within the organization during the period 2011–2018, compared to discussion in work groups (n = 13) during the period 2003–2010. Conclusion The proportion of malpractice claims in relation to all patient contacts to SHD is still very low; it seems that only the most severe patient injuries are reported. The fact that telephone nurses’ failure to follow the CDSS is the most common reason for error is notable, as SHD and healthcare organizations stress the importance of using the CDSS to enhance patient safety. The healthcare organizations seem to have adopted a more systematic approach to handling malpractice claims regarding calls, e.g., allowing telephone nurses to listen to their own calls instead of having discussions in work groups in response to events. This enables nurses to understand the latent factors contributing to error and provides a learning opportunity.

Simulation in Medicine: Addressing Patient Safety and Improving the Interface Between Healthcare Providers and Medical Technology

2006 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 399-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Hunt ◽  
Kristen L. Nelson ◽  
Nicole A. Shilkofski
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Technology ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Medical Simulation ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Safe Environment ◽  
Enhance Patient Safety ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Performance

Abstract Medicine, as an industry in which human lives depend on the skill and performance of operators, must create and maintain a culture of safety, in addition to promoting the design of systems to mitigate errors. The use of medical simulation as a mechanism for training healthcare professionals in a safe environment is expanding rapidly. An important component of systems that ensure the safety of patients in the hospital setting is the interface between humans and technology in the hospital. The objective of this paper is to review: (1) the definition and a brief history of medical simulation, (2) examples of how current medical simulation centers are using simulation to address patient safety, and (3) examples of how simulation can be used to enhance patient safety through improvement of the interface between healthcare practitioners and medical technology. Medical simulation and human factors engineering can be used to examine and enhance the interface between health-care practitioners and medical technology, with the potential to make a significant contribution to patient safety.

scholarly journals Exploring patient safety outcomes for people with learning disabilities in acute hospital settings: a scoping review

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e047102
Author(s):  
Gemma Louch ◽  
Abigail Albutt ◽  
Joanna Harlow-Trigg ◽  
Sally Moore ◽  
Kate Smyth ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Learning Disabilities ◽  
Patient Safety ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Infant Outcomes ◽  
Safety Outcomes

ObjectivesTo produce a narrative synthesis of published academic and grey literature focusing on patient safety outcomes for people with learning disabilities in an acute hospital setting.DesignScoping review with narrative synthesis.MethodsThe review followed the six stages of the Arksey and O’Malley framework. We searched four research databases from January 2000 to March 2021, in addition to handsearching and backwards searching using terms relating to our eligibility criteria—patient safety and adverse events, learning disability and hospital setting. Following stakeholder input, we searched grey literature databases and specific websites of known organisations until March 2020. Potentially relevant articles and grey literature materials were screened against the eligibility criteria. Findings were extracted and collated in data charting forms.Results45 academic articles and 33 grey literature materials were included, and we organised the findings around six concepts: (1) adverse events, patient safety and quality of care; (2) maternal and infant outcomes; (3) postoperative outcomes; (4) role of family and carers; (5) understanding needs in hospital and (6) supporting initiatives, recommendations and good practice examples. The findings suggest inequalities and inequities for a range of specific patient safety outcomes including adverse events, quality of care, maternal and infant outcomes and postoperative outcomes, in addition to potential protective factors, such as the roles of family and carers and the extent to which health professionals are able to understand the needs of people with learning disabilities.ConclusionPeople with learning disabilities appear to experience poorer patient safety outcomes in hospital. The involvement of family and carers, and understanding and effectively meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities may play a protective role. Promising interventions and examples of good practice exist, however many of these have not been implemented consistently and warrant further robust evaluation.

Assessment of the Implementation of AUC Dosing and Monitoring Practices With Vancomycin at Hospitals Across the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. 089719002110123
Author(s):  
Nicole Bradley ◽  
Yuman Lee ◽  
Muaz Sadeia
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Therapeutic Drug ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
Electronic Survey ◽  
The Us ◽  
Institutional Adoption ◽  
American Society ◽  
Trough Levels ◽  
Do So

Introduction: The latest vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring guidelines for serious MRSA infections have made a pivotal change in dosing, switching from targeting trough levels to AUC dosing. Because of these new recommendations, antimicrobial stewardship programs across the country are tasked with implementing AUC based dosing. Objectives: To assess plans for institutional adoption of vancomycin AUC dosing programs and perceptions of currently used programs in hospitals across the US. Methods: An electronic survey was distributed to members of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy IDprn Listserv and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists between May and June 2020 to assess current institutional vancomycin dosing. Institutional program use and multiple software user parameters were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Two hundred two pharmacists responded to the survey with the majority practicing in institutions with 251-500 beds. Most respondents have yet to implement AUC dosing (142/202, 70.3%) with many of them planning to do so in the next year (81/142, 57.0%). Of those that already implemented AUC dosing programs, purchased Bayesian software (23/60, 38.3%) and homemade software (21/60, 35.0%) were the 2 methods most frequently utilized. Purchased Bayesian software users were more likely to recommend their software to other institutions and ranked user friendliness higher compared to non-purchased software. Conclusion: Most respondents have not made the switch to vancomycin AUC dosing, but there is a growing interest with many institutions looking to adopt a program within the next year.

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