Pressure ulcers, also known as pressure injuries or bedsores, are a significant health issue. Pressure ulcers develop when there is constant pressure on a particular area of the skin, often from lying in the same position for too long without relief. The harm can vary in severity, from mild reddening of the skin to deep wounds that extend into the muscle and bone.
Patient misidentification is a prevalent patient safety concern. It is an ever-present risk that can inadvertently lead to other clinical incidents, potentially causing harm to patients. Addressing patient misidentification is crucial for enhancing patient safety and preventing adverse events. Despite efforts to prevent wrong-patient errors, mistakes continue to occur.
Correctly identifying patients and matching patients to their intended treatment is fundamental to safe care. Patient identification is such a routine process in the complex healthcare system, and it can be perceived as unimportant. Yet, the risk of wrong-patient errors is real and ever-present.
Simple and easy-to-use tools can bring surprising insights and results. Most healthcare professionals, especially safety and quality officers, are familiar with and use them during their day-to-day work. Yes, we are talking about essential patient safety tools and techniques that you use to ensure the delivery of safe and reliable care. These tools are indispensable for safety and quality management in healthcare.
Medication error (ME) is a key patient safety concern and a leading cause of avoidable patient harm in healthcare systems. However, MEs often go undetected or underreported. Reporting MEs is crucial for patient safety and continuous quality improvement in all healthcare organizations.
Falls are a prevalent safety concern and a leading cause of injuries involving patients and long-term care residents. It leads to injuries, longer length of hospital stays, post-fall anxiety and financial burdens. According to JCI Sentinel Event database, inpatient falls with serious injuries accounted for 42% of total sentinel events reported in hospitals in 2022.
The theme for World Patient Safety Day 2023 is a recognition of the crucial roles patients and families play in improving the quality and safety of care. It is a call to action to promote awareness of the active engagement of patients and families to improve patient safety.
Near miss reporting plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety within healthcare settings. It allows healthcare professionals to identify
Unsafe medication practices and medication errors are one of the leading causes of injury and preventable harm in healthcare systems across the world.
Near miss reporting is crucial in improving patient safety and preventing harm. It helps in early detection of potential risks and hazards, improves safety culture and awareness, and promotes transparency and accountability.