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April 2007

Reduce Patient Care Errors to Improve Safety

Improving patient safety will help reduce patient care errors. Reducing errors can only be achieved through the coordinated efforts of many individuals, including the patients, their families or caregivers, the physicians and their staff.

Communicating effectively with your patients will help you achieve a safer level of care. Taking the initiative to educate your patients about the mistakes that can happen and how to prevent them is crucial. Encourage them to speak up with any questions or concerns they may have, and engage your patients by discussing safety issues instead of just giving them a brochure on safety without your counsel. Help your patients understand they have a say in their care by making them more comfortable through conversation. Your patients are more likely to increase their involvement, and the likelihood for errors to occur will diminish.

You can involve your patients in safety procedures without difficulty. Today, the Joint Commission requires the involvement of patients to mark their site for invasive procedures as part of the pre-procedure process. A couple of simple ways that you can provide guidance for your patients include:

  • Teaching your patients that each staff member should identify themselves prior to any treatment, blood draw, medication or procedure
  • Displaying safety and educational posters in your exam rooms, hallways and waiting areas
  • Educating your patients to approach the staff with any safety or health concerns they have
  • Encouraging patients to remind staff to wash their hands before
    touching them

It is recommended that you use a complete comprehensive record system that consists of flow records, health history, maintenance and medication summary for your patients. It is important to implement a health maintenance guide record as part of your documentation as well. They are designed to aid you and your staff in charting immunizations, examination procedures, laboratory tests and patient health. Click here to view a sample of Briggs Milcom Health Maintenance Guide.

The Briggs Core Data Base and Chart Index Form will also help you maintain an organized record of your patients’ problems and medications list for the Practice Information System for internal medicine. This record form summarizes problems/diagnoses, medications, risk factors and provides an index of tests, x-rays and special visits. Click here to view a sample of Briggs Milcom Core Data Base and Chart Index.

By implementing a few simple and inexpensive tools into your practice, you can reduce errors while improving the safety and quality of care for your patients. 

Sources:  www.jointcommission.org
              www.jcipatientsafety.org

Phyllis Bouley, LPN, AS
Clinical Consultant, Briggs Corporation

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