Designing Healthcare Organizations to Reduce Medical Errors and Enhance Patient Safety

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 4-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter C. Olden ◽  
William C. McCaughrin
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Errors ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
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 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.

A system-oriented analysis model to enhance patient safety in healthcare organizations

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheu-Wen Chuang ◽  
Chung-Yu Pan ◽  
Chin-Yin Huang
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Analysis Model ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Enhance Patient Safety

scholarly journals Improving Patient Safety and Reducing Medical Errors in Saudi Healthcare Organizations

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rasha Mohammadmaki Bokhari
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Medical Errors ◽  
Medical Error ◽  
The United States ◽  
Moral Issue ◽  
Ethical Responsibility ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Critical Areas

This paper aimed to identify the critical areas that need improvement within the health care institutions' systems in Saudi Arabia to enhance patient safety and reduce medical errors. Methodology: A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the moral issue of medical error and patient safety in the Saudi healthcare organizations system. Database yielded more than 4,000 candidate articles, of which 45 studies randomly selected after they fulfilled the inclusion criteria in this study. Results: The outcome of the research study was more than 45 articles that met the inclusion criteria and appeared to be highly relevant to the subject under investigation. The lack of the ethical responsibility to continuously improve the healthcare system, the lack of proper safety culture and active reporting system, and the lack of patient-centered care were documented as critical areas in Saudi healthcare organizations’ system in need of improvement to enhance patients’ safety and to reduce medical errors. Practical implication: the researcher made several recommendations based on what has been done in the United States' healthcare system that systemically addresses improving patient safety and reducing medical errors. For instance, healthcare organizations devoted to improve patient safety and reduce medical error should abandon the routine assignment of individual blame and shift toward a system thinking approach. The devotion to enhancing patient safety stems from ethical responsibility and accountability of healthcare organizations toward the patients they serve. Also, healthcare organizations that lack a strong culture of safety will consequently not achieve a high level of patient safety. Finally, Healthcare organizations should pay attention to the essential role that patient involvement play in improving safety and reducing medical errors.

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 Models of teaching medical errors

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gassem Gohal
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Medical Errors ◽  
Postgraduate Medical Education ◽  
Intervention Strategy ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Undergraduate Medical Students ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Creative Commons ◽  
Models Of Teaching ◽  
Health Care Training

Medical errors are relatively common causes of preventable iatrogenic adverse events. We have focused on teaching models in certain courses of study that have been reported to have significant positive impacts on the outcomes of teaching about medical errors. All healthcare organizations must establish suitable models of teaching about patient safety and medical errors as a preventive measure and as an early intervention strategy. Teaching undergraduate medical students and physicians in training how to manage and disclose medical errors helps them develop lifelong skills that can effectively reduce such errors.The literature search was conducted in international databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar search engine using English equivalent keywords, from 1998 up to April, 2020. The search strategy used the following subject headings terms: “Medical error(s)” AND “Teaching”. Out of 40 Studies included, 6 studies were selected to have evaluated models of health care training and simulation based teaching of medical errors and patient safety in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.4506 How to cite this:Gohal G. Models of teaching medical errors. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(7):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.7.4506 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cybersecurity in healthcare: Comparing cybersecurity maturity and experiences across global healthcare organizations (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niki O'Brien ◽  
Guy Martin ◽  
Emilia Grass ◽  
Mike Durkin ◽  
Ara Darzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Safety ◽  
Electronic Health Records ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Data Security ◽  
Healthcare Organizations ◽  
Health Records ◽  
Cyber Threats ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
The World ◽  
Service Disruption

BACKGROUND Health systems around the world are increasingly reliant on digital technology. Such reliance requires that healthcare organizations consider effective cybersecurity and digital resilience as a fundamental component of patient safety, with recent cyberattacks highlighting the risks to patients and targeted organizations. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the current global cybersecurity landscape and maturity in healthcare. METHODS We developed and administered a survey to examine the current cybersecurity landscape and preparedness level across global healthcare organizations. RESULTS Cyber threats were a common concern for the 17 healthcare organizations who participated. The principal concerns highlighted were data security, including the manipulation or loss of electronic health records; loss of trust in the organization; and risks of service disruption. Cybersecurity maturity scoring showed that despite the majority of organizations having established cybersecurity practices, levels of awareness and education were universally poor. CONCLUSIONS Policymakers should consider raising awareness and improving education/training on cybersecurity as a fundamental tenet of patient safety.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document