Avoiding Medical Mishaps

Yet, one of the most challenging unanswered questions is "What constitutes a medical error? A lack of standardized nomenclature and overlapping definitions of medical errors has hindered data analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. There are two major types of errors: Errors of omission occur as a result of actions not taken. Examples are not strapping a patient into a wheelchair or not stabilizing a gurney prior to patient transfer.

Errors of the commission occur as a result of the wrong action taken. The threat of impending legal action may compound these feelings.

5 strategies for hospitals to prevent medical errors

Unfortunately, failing to report contributes to the likelihood of serious patient harm. Many healthcare institutions have rigid policies in place which also create an adversarial environment. These actions or lack thereof can contribute to an evolving cycle of medical errors. However, adverse patient outcomes may occur because of errors; to delete the term obscures the goal of preventing and managing its causes and effects Battard, Errors, no matter the nomenclature, typically occur from the convergence of multiple contributing factors.

Public and legislative intolerance for medical errors typically illustrates a lack of understanding that some errors may, in fact, not be preventable with current technology or the resources available to the practitioner. Human factors are always a problem, and identifying errors permits improvement strategies to be undertaken. Errors represent an opportunity for constructive changes and improved education in health care delivery. Governmental, legal, and medical institutions must work collaboratively to remove the culture of blame while retaining accountability.

Medical Error Prevention - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

When this challenge is met, health care institutions will not be constrained from measuring targets for process improvement, including all errors, even with adverse outcomes. Healthcare providers want to improve outcomes while reducing the risk of patient harm. Despite provider best efforts, medical error rates remain high with significant disability and death.

Preventable medical errors contribute substantially to healthcare cost, including higher health insurance costs per person expenses. Only by health professionals working together will the cost and injury associated with medical errors be mitigated. The Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals The Joint Commission has introduced several patient safety goals to assist institutions and healthcare practitioners in creating a safer practice environment for patients and providers The Joint Commission, The Joint Commission Goals include: Identify patient safety dangers and risks.

Identify patients correctly by confirming the identity in at least two ways. Improve communication such as getting test results to the correct person quickly. Prevent infection by hand-cleaning, post-op infection antibiotics, catheter changes, and central lines precautions.

Prevent mistakes in surgery by making sure the correct surgery is done on the correct body part; pause before surgery to double check. Use device alarms and make sure that alarms on medical equipment are heard and checked quickly.

Ideas for prevention

Use medicines correctly and safely, double checking labeling and correctly passing on patient medicines to the next provider. Label all medications, even those in a syringe. This should preferably be done in the area where the medications are prepared. Take extra time with patients who have been prescribed anticoagulants and chemotherapeutic agents. To prevent nosocomial infections, hand washing should be routine before and after visiting each patient. This being said, it remains difficult to change a culture of non-reporting. Questions to consider include: The potential for errors in healthcare is very high.

Due to cost control measures, are individuals accountable, or is increased workload and staff fatigue the reason for errors? Failure to report errors may subject clinicians to disciplinary action and increased risk for legal liability. Beneficence and nonmaleficence are ethical concepts that are violated when an error is not reported. Practitioners often fear they will gain a reputation for committing mistakes and may not self-report.

They know that mistakes and written warnings are often recorded in personnel files. Does the system need modification to decrease the penalty and encourage reporting? Punishment may, in fact, reduce reporting errors because of the discipline and humiliation that is associated with repeated errors. Rather than placing blame, administrators and review boards need to move toward eliminating the blame-shame-discipline structure and move toward a prevention and education structure.

This culture incorporates both learning and improvement efforts that target system redesign and a reporting culture whereby all providers feel safe from retribution and, therefore, report issues about safety that help to constantly improve patient care and improve the safety of the system Battard, All providers must accept the inherent issues in their roles as healthcare workers that contribute to error-prone environments. Effective communication related to medical errors may foster autonomy and ultimately improve patient safety.

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Error reporting better serves patients and providers by mitigating their effects. Even the best clinicians make mistakes, and every practitioner should be encouraged to provide peer support to their colleagues after an adverse event occurs.

Medical errors and near misses should be reported when they are discovered. Healthcare professionals are usually the first to notice a change in a patient's condition that suggests an adverse event.

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To keep up with the hustle and bustle of the season, many people must eat on the go. The National Safety Council says nearly 3, people in the United States die each year from choking. Taking small bites and chewing completely, while also avoiding talking while chewing, can help. Children should be kept away from small decorations, as even pine needles can be a choking hazard.

When decorating, consider decorating with artificial plants instead of live, potentially poisonous plants. Holiday fun frequently involves alcoholic beverages. Law enforcement officials point out that the rate of driving while intoxicated tends to increase during the holidays. Relatives visiting for Christmas may bring their prescription medications along when staying overnight. Staying safe during the holidays involves diligence and keeping an eye out for potential dangers. Recent Posts Regain hope and strength while caregiving Everyday ways to help your elderly neighbors How to cook for people with various dietary needs Sweet Potato Quiche for a Thanksgiving Twist The roles of different branches of the U.