Answer:
1. Use monitoring technology
Healthcare workers care for several patients during their shifts; each one with varying needs and medications. The use of monitoring technology can help nurses and physicians verify that they’re always following the right procedure for the right patient and that they’re keeping on top of each patient’s needs.
Technology, such as bed alarms to notify staff if a patient falls or barcode systems that verify patient medication, are behind-the-scenes measures many hospitals are already taking to improve patient safety, according to Judith R. Sands, RN, healthcare professional and author of Home Hospice Navigation: The Caregiver’s Guide. Monitoring systems like these provide an easy way to catch and prevent harm from human error in hospitals.
2. Make sure patients understand their treatment
You may think all patient safety responsibilities fall to the healthcare provider, but making sure that patients are informed about their own care is also vital to preventing errors. This doesn’t mean patients need to have the same knowledge of their situation as a healthcare professional—but a high-level understanding of the treatment and the risks they face can go a long way. Simply asking patients to recall and restate what they’ve been told is a strategy with enough evidence to support its regular use in patient safety initiatives.
Patients and their family members are naturally focused on maintaining their own health. By verifying that they understand their treatment plan, medication and medical procedures, you’re giving them the tools they need to notice and prevent errors in their own care.
3. Verify all medical procedures
We’ve all heard the horror stories about a patient having their right knee replaced when it was actually the left knee that was scheduled for operation. Building regular verification processes into hospital procedures helps prevent errors like these.
The most famous example of this type of verification is the Universal Protocol, which helps prevent surgical errors by allowing any member of a surgical team to call a “time out” to verify the details of the surgery. However, Sands notes that verification also plays a part in other aspects of healthcare, such as verifying medication dosage and timing, or verifying that a provider followed handwashing procedures.
4. Follow proper handwashing procedures
Simple actions can have a big impact on patient safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cites handwashing as one of the best ways to stop the spread of germs and prevent infections in hospitals.
The CDC’s Clean Hands Count campaign recommends that healthcare providers use alcohol-based sanitizer regularly, as well as have open conversations with patients about the importance of hand hygiene. This allows patients to take control of their own health by asking healthcare providers if they’ve washed their hands when they enter the room.
5. Promote a team atmosphere
Each and every member of a hospital’s staff plays a part in maintaining patient safety. Emphasizing teamwork and being honest with staff about their role in patient safety can make a big difference in your hospital’s culture and attitude toward preventing errors.
Sands shares that nurses and others with direct patient contact “Know the issues but often feel powerless and unappreciated for their hard work, which leads to reluctance to speak up.” She urges hospitals to share patient feedback and patient safety trends in their hospital, as well as forming interdisciplinary risk assessment teams to help address patient safety issues and promote teamwork among hospital staff
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