Patient involvement in patient safety

Patient safety is a discipline about how hospitals and other health care organizations protect their patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections through the prevention, reduction, reporting, and analysis of medical error . While many hospitals are good at keeping their patients safe, some hospitals aren’t. As many as 440,000 people die every year from preventable errors in hospitals. Every year, 1 out of every 25 patients develops an infection while in the hospital and 1 in 4 chance of experiencing injury, harm or death when admitted to a hospital. Today alone, more than 1000 people will die because of a preventable hospital error.

Patient safety is the number one priority at every hospital across the United States. But in developing countries, the scenario is different. Patient safety is in developing countries affected by material context, staffing issues and inter-professional working relationships. In other words, shortage of financial resources, shortage of medical expertise and lack of advanced information technology affects the process of healthcare delivery in such countries. Patient harm and adverse events account for around 15% of acute care expenditure in hospitals in a typical developed country which can have serious consequences.

In some hospitals, strong health care teams reduce infection rates, put checks in place to prevent mistakes, and ensure strong lines of communication between hospital staff, patients, and families. But some hospitals don’t have teams that work well together, or good leadership to ensure that patient safety is the number one priority. When one person makes a mistake, there isn’t a good team ready to catch that mistake. Patients can experience dangerous complications, recovery is slower, and some patients even die unnecessarily.

Patients can play an important role in improving patient safety by becoming actively involved in their health care. Patient safety is dependent upon both the caregiver and the environment in which care is provided. Some hospitals have hidden dangers, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. Here are some actions we can take to enhance the quality and safety of patient care during hospital stay

Patient safety in medication:

Pay attention and always make sure that you are getting the right treatments and medicines by the right health care professionals.

Ask the doctor and pharmacist about the medicine. What is the name, benefits, and possible side effects or reactions with other medications or food/beverages?

Do not be afraid to tell the doctor, nurse or other health care professional if you think they have the wrong patient or that you are about to get the wrong medication.

Double-check your prescription before you leave the pharmacy; check your medicine to make sure it was prepared for you. Speak up before you leave because pharmacies typically do not take back medicine once it has been purchased.

Discuss previous allergies or reactions to make sure the doctors, nurses and pharmacists, know about any allergies or reactions to drugs you or your family member might have.

Bring a list of your medications to every appointment and throw away old medicines.

Keep medications out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them.Keeping medications secure can help prevent an accidental injury and help stop prescription medication abuse. Controlled substances should be kept in a locked cabinet, safe or container.

Patient safety to prevent fall in hospital

It is important to ask the nursing staff for help to and from the bathroom if you are unsteady. The call light in the bathroom may be located on the wall.

If you take medicines that cause you to go to the bathroom often, ask for help when you need to get up. Consider using a commode or urinal. For your safety, a member of the nursing staff may stay with you in the bathroom.

Some medicines may cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy. Take your time getting out of the bed or chair. Sit at the edge of the bed for a few seconds before you get up

Wear nonslip footwear or slippers when you are up and wear your eyeglasses , hearing aid or other support when you are awake

Walkers and canes can provide support. Use the call light when you need help

Ask a member of your health care team to place the call light, phone and personal items within your reach before he or she leaves the room

Tell a member of the nursing staff if you have any concerns about your safety

Patient safety to prevent infections during hospital stay

Hand Hygiene:

Do hand hygiene regularly after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, before eating, before and after changing dressings or bandages, and when entering or leaving your room.

Use soap and warm, running water to wash your hands .At first wet your hands and put some soap on your hands. After that rub your hands together for at least 15 seconds and cover over all surfaces, including between your fingers and under fingernails and rinse with running water, Lastly dry your hands with a paper towel and use a paper towel to turn off the faucet

If you cannot get to a sink, please ask your health care provider for a waterless alcohol hand rub or wipes

To use alcohol hand rub, dispense a walnut-sized amount into your hand and rub until dry before touching anything

Respiratory hygiene:

Turn away from other people in the room

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your upper arm or elbow

Put the used tissue in the waste basket. You may be asked to wear a surgical mask when leaving your room

If your visitor has a cough remind him or her to also cover a cough, wear a mask or both

Patient safety in discharge time

When being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan you will use at home. Get it in writing

Day before discharge

Tell the person who is driving you home from the hospital what day and time to pick you up

Ask family members or friends to start taking home some of your personal items, such as flowers, cards, cell phone or extra clothes

Day of discharge

Remind the person driving you home what time to be at the hospital

Make sure you have all of your personal items

You will receive information and instructions for follow-up appointments

Be sure you review and understand information on your discharge instruction sheet

Please ask your nurse or doctor if you have any questions or concerns

Tips for visitors

Do not visit if you feel sick

Wash your hands with soap and water or use a waterless alcohol hand rub before you enter and when you leave

Wash your hands more often if you are helping to care for someone

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your upper arm. Throw away used tissues and cleanse your hands

Follow any directions from the health care team

It’s easy to think of healthcare settings as naturally safe places, but in reality, hospitals can be filled with lurking dangers due to the potential for infections or medical errors. As we know patient safety is the absence of preventable harm to a patient during the process of health care and reduction of risk of unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum. So, keep yourself safe in hospital as much as possible because your safety is somehow your responsibility.n

 

Patient involvement in patient safety

Patient safety is a discipline about how hospitals and other health care organizations protect their patients from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections through the prevention, reduction, reporting, and analysis of medical error . While many hospitals are good at keeping their patients safe, some hospitals arent. As many as 440,000 people die every year from preventable errors in hospitals. Every year, 1 out of every 25 patients develops an infection while in the hospital and 1 in 4 chance of experiencing injury, harm or death when admitted to a hospital. Today alone, more than 1000 people will die because of a preventable hospital error. Patient safety is the number one priority at every hospital across the United States. But in developing countries, the scenario is different. Patient safety is in developing countries affected by material context, staffing issues and inter-professional working relationships. In other words, shortage of financial resources, shortage of medical expertise and lack of advanced information technology affects the process of healthcare delivery in such countries. Patient harm and adverse events account for around 15% of acute care expenditure in hospitals in a typical developed country which can have serious consequences. In some hospitals, strong health care teams reduce infection rates, put checks in place to prevent mistakes, and ensure strong lines of communication between hospital staff, patients, and families. But some hospitals dont have teams that work well together, or good leadership to ensure that patient safety is the number one priority. When one person makes a mistake, there isnt a good team ready to catch that mistake. Patients can experience dangerous complications, recovery is slower, and some patients even die unnecessarily. Patients can play an important role in improving patient safety by becoming actively involved in their health care. Patient safety is dependent upon both the caregiver and the environment in which care is provided. Some hospitals have hidden dangers, but there are things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones. Here are some actions we can take to enhance the quality and safety of patient care during hospital stay Patient safety in medication: Pay attention and always make sure that you are getting the right treatments and medicines by the right health care professionals. Ask the doctor and pharmacist about the medicine. What is the name, benefits, and possible side effects or reactions with other medications or food/beverages? Do not be afraid to tell the doctor, nurse or other health care professional if you think they have the wrong patient or that you are about to get the wrong medication. Double-check your prescription before you leave the pharmacy; check your medicine to make sure it was prepared for you. Speak up before you leave because pharmacies typically do not take back medicine once it has been purchased. Discuss previous allergies or reactions to make sure the doctors, nurses and pharmacists, know about any allergies or reactions to drugs you or your family member might have. Bring a list of your medications to every appointment and throw away old medicines. Keep medications out of the hands of people who shouldnt have them.Keeping medications secure can help prevent an accidental injury and help stop prescription medication abuse. Controlled substances should be kept in a locked cabinet, safe or container. Patient safety to prevent fall in hospital It is important to ask the nursing staff for help to and from the bathroom if you are unsteady. The call light in the bathroom may be located on the wall. If you take medicines that cause you to go to the bathroom often, ask for help when you need to get up. Consider using a commode or urinal. For your safety, a member of the nursing staff may stay with you in the bathroom. Some medicines may cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy. Take your time getting out of the bed or chair. Sit at the edge of the bed for a few seconds before you get up Wear nonslip footwear or slippers when you are up and wear your eyeglasses , hearing aid or other support when you are awake Walkers and canes can provide support. Use the call light when you need help Ask a member of your health care team to place the call light, phone and personal items within your reach before he or she leaves the room Tell a member of the nursing staff if you have any concerns about your safety Patient safety to prevent infections during hospital stay Hand Hygiene: Do hand hygiene regularly after using the bathroom, blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, before eating, before and after changing dressings or bandages, and when entering or leaving your room. Use soap and warm, running water to wash your hands .At first wet your hands and put some soap on your hands. After that rub your hands together for at least 15 seconds and cover over all surfaces, including between your fingers and under fingernails and rinse with running water, Lastly dry your hands with a paper towel and use a paper towel to turn off the faucet If you cannot get to a sink, please ask your health care provider for a waterless alcohol hand rub or wipes To use alcohol hand rub, dispense a walnut-sized amount into your hand and rub until dry before touching anything Respiratory hygiene: Turn away from other people in the room Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your upper arm or elbow Put the used tissue in the waste basket. You may be asked to wear a surgical mask when leaving your room If your visitor has a cough remind him or her to also cover a cough, wear a mask or both Patient safety in discharge time When being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan you will use at home. Get it in writing Day before discharge Tell the person who is driving you home from the hospital what day and time to pick you up Ask family members or friends to start taking home some of your personal items, such as flowers, cards, cell phone or extra clothes Day of discharge Remind the person driving you home what time to be at the hospital Make sure you have all of your personal items You will receive information and instructions for follow-up appointments Be sure you review and understand information on your discharge instruction sheet Please ask your nurse or doctor if you have any questions or concerns Tips for visitors Do not visit if you feel sick Wash your hands with soap and water or use a waterless alcohol hand rub before you enter and when you leave Wash your hands more often if you are helping to care for someone Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your upper arm. Throw away used tissues and cleanse your hands Follow any directions from the health care team Its easy to think of healthcare settings as naturally safe places, but in reality, hospitals can be filled with lurking dangers due to the potential for infections or medical errors. As we know patient safety is the absence of preventable harm to a patient during the process of health care and reduction of risk of unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum. So, keep yourself safe in hospital as much as possible because your safety is somehow your responsibility.n