ASHRM Webinar – Have a Heart: Caring for our Own

    Posted in Patient Safety, Second Victim Experience, Susan Scott, Uncategorized    |    No Comments

Tuesday, February 14, 2012, 1 – 2 p.m.  CT Will provide insights into the second victim experience, interventions for supporting colleagues in distress and lessons learned from the University of Missouri.

With Guest Speaker, Susan Scott, RN, MSN

When a patient suffers from an unexpected clinical event, healthcare clinicians often become the “second victim,” feel as though they have failed the patient and frequently second guessing their clinical skills, knowledge base and career choice.

Understanding the second victim experience and recognizing that supportive interventions can promote a healthy recovery during this vulnerable period is critical.

Guest Speaker, Susan Scott, serves as Patient Safety Officer for University of Missouri Health Care. With more than 30 years of nursing experience, Scott’s Patient Safety research include understanding the second victim phenomenon to help interdisciplinary professionals in the aftermath of unanticipated clinical outcomes.

Register Now!

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Comments on ‘How doctors can reduce medical errors, lawsuits’

    Posted in Medical Error, Medical Error Lawsuits    |    No Comments

Medical malpractice is a constant concern for doctors, says Dr. Kevin Pho, known for his blog KevinMD.com.  Depending on the type of medicine practiced, most or all doctors will face a lawsuit during their careers.  Probably the greatest point in Dr. Pho’s January 23 USA Today article, How doctors can reduce medical errors, lawsuits, is what we all know – but need to be reminded of often.  No one wants medical mistakes!  The point which is a close second for its wisdom is that saying “I’m sorry” works.

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Primaris Taps the MOCPS to Lead CUSP Training Program

    Posted in Culture of Safety, CUSP, Hospital Acquired Infections    |    No Comments

MOCPS is pleased to announce that Primaris, the federally designated Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) for the state of Missouri, has asked us to lead the Basics of Comprehensive Unit-based Safety Program (CUSP) training program for seven hospitals as part of a CAUTI training project.  We are honored that Primaris has recognized our expertise with CUSP and success in working with hospitals to implement it successfully.  The Basics of CUSP is part of the Center’s People, Priorities and Learning Together initiative.

What new technologies should you be watching this year?

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See ECRI Institute’s 2012 C-Suite Watch List for our Top Picks.Description: Description: http://storage.coremotivesmarketing.com/library/bed0ffa0-3fa7-42d8-a7f5-86cc4f64575d/584/C-Suite_TimesSquare.jpg

CT radiation reduction technologies, proton beam therapy, heart valve implants, personalized cancer vaccines, cardiac developments, and much more made ECRI Institute’sTop 10 C-Suite Watch List: Hospital Technology Issues for 2012.

“The price tag for these technologies is going up…and hospitals need to be very selective about where they spend their money,” advised Robert Bense, ECRI Institute Clinical Manager.

Download the free 32-page report

The Q4 Issue of the Forum Newsletter is Now Online

    Posted in Culture of Safety, Patient Safety, Preventable Errors    |    No Comments

Check out the last issue of ASHRM’s Forum newsletter for 2011. The Q4 issue profiles ASHRM President-Elect Mary Anne Hilliard and her goal to “get to zero” serious safety events. Part two of the electronics medical records (EMRs) article (continued from Q3) looks at the advantages and pitfalls of EMRs. The patient safety article shines a light on the most overlooked victims of adverse events—healthcare workers. As always, the Forum details ASHRM’s latest accomplishments and lists the newest CPHRMs.

Joint Commission Releases New Sentinel Event Alert on Long Work Hours

    Posted in Culture of Safety, Medical Error, Patient Safety    |    No Comments

The Joint Commission is warning hospitals about the potential dangers of extended hours and excessive workloads in a new Sentinel Event Alert. The alert contains documented links between healthcare worker fatigue and adverse events, as well as lower productivity. Sleep deprivation or lack of quality sleep over an extended amount of time can lead to confusion, irritability, memory lapses, loss of empathy, and compromised problem-solving, among other things, according to the Alert. The Joint Commission suggests organizations assess their fatigue-related risks, including off-shift hours and consecutive shift work; examine the hand-off process; invite staff to offer input in their own work schedules; implement a fatigue management plan; and educate staff about the effects of fatigue on patient safety.

Hospitals face fines for overdose, leaving sponge in patient

    Posted in Culture of Safety, Just Culture, Medical Error, Patient Safety    |    No Comments

L.A. NOW – Southern California

The California Department of Public Health issued $850,000 in fines against 14 hospitals for medical errors that caused — or were likely to cause — serious injury or death to patients, officials announced Thursday.

Three of the hospitals — Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center and Torrance Memorial Medical Center — were in Los Angeles County.

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TJC Issues Sentinel Event Alert: Fatigue Impacts Patient Safety

    Posted in Culture of Safety, Preventable Errors, Quality of Care    |    No Comments

The link between health care worker fatigue and patient safety is not unfamiliar.  But have you assessed your organization to mitigate health-care worker fatigue-related risks?  The Joint Commission suggests the following: a review of the work shift schedule with staff involvement; an assessment of high-risk processes and procedures (such as patient hand-offs); education on sleep hygiene (getting enough sleep and practicing good sleep habits that can impact sleep); and promotion of a safe culture through open communication about fatigue concerns as well as a focus on  teamwork to support staff working extended hours. The result of these efforts can protect your patients from harm.

Read more about what you can do in Issue 48 of the The Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert.

For more information, check out our links to several Communication & Teamwork Toolkits!

Interested in finding out what your safety culture is? Check out the Survey on Patient Safety Culture!

 

 

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