Falls occur at all ages but are common among older people. According to some studies, falls occur in 30% of adults aged over 65 annually. Falls are a common reason that older people are admitted to hospital.
In this blog, we are sharing the key findings on safety incident reporting in care homes in a paper published by the Journal of Advanced Nursing. The study was a systematic review on the types of safety incidents, the processes and systems used for safety incident reporting in the care home sector.
In this blog post, we are sharing the key messages on the burden of unsafe care taken from the Global Patient Safety Report 2024 published by WHO. Our focus is on the report’s key findings and analysis of patient harm by medical setting/clinical domain and by source of harm.
What this Report is About The World Health Organization recently published the Global Patient Safety Report 2024. The report provides
The nursing home sector plays a vital role in caring for the aged and some of the most vulnerable groups in society. Healthcare needs of the elderly are rising and getting more complex, so is the focus on resident safety and quality of care. Incident reporting is integral to ensuring safety and quality of care. Under-reporting of incidents in the nursing home sector, as revealed by some studies, is an area of concern.
Needlestick and sharps injury (NSI) is a serious occupational hazard and health concern. Healthcare workers (HCWs) who have frequent exposure to needles are at increased risk of NSIs. Sharps exposures can lead to serious or fatal infections with bloodborne pathogens such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, or HIV. Proper reporting and prevention strategies are crucial in mitigating these risks.
Open communication is critical in fostering a safety culture and a positive work environment in healthcare. In this blog, we look at the pivotal role of online incident reporting in fostering open communication and creating a culture of safety, transparency, active learning, and continuous improvement.
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.