Lawrence Smith, MD, founding dean of the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, recently gave an interview, on resident supervision and patient safety. Listen to an excerpt online or download a podcast. An accompanying perspective piece, by C. Jessica Dine, MD, MA, and Jennifer S. Myers, MD, University of Pennsylvania, examine how increased supervision influences the educational experience for trainees.
Patient Safety
Tips for a Successful Survey on Patient Safety Culture
Posted in AHRQ, Center Info, Culture of Safety, Patient Safety, Patient Safety Survey Posted February 2, 2012 | No Comments
The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture is an invaluable diagnostic tool that allows you to look beyond the physical impression of your facility’s culture. AHRQ’s in-depth study of question formatting, wording, and categorizing has resulted in a highly reliable resource that can provide a detailed analysis of your patient safety culture. The results will provide supporting evidence of positive cultural improvements and locate areas of cultural weaknesses. AHRQ offers a national database so you can see how you measure up: Check out the 2012 Comparative Database Report!
But all too often, surveys are distributed, results are collected, and then… nothing happens. Read More
ASHRM Webinar – Have a Heart: Caring for our Own
Posted in Patient Safety, Second Victim Experience, Susan Scott, Uncategorized Posted January 25, 2012 | 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.
The Q4 Issue of the Forum Newsletter is Now Online
Posted in Culture of Safety, Patient Safety, Preventable Errors Posted January 3, 2012 | 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
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 Posted December 16, 2011 | 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.
Latest Issue of AHRQ WebM&M
Posted in AHRQ, Falls, Falls Reduction, Medical Error, Patient Safety Posted December 12, 2011 | No Comments
This month, the Perspectives on Safety section covers fall prevention with Ann L. Hendrich, RN, PhD, of Ascension Health. A leading expert on health care–associated falls, who developed one of the most widely used risk assessment tools. Listen to an excerpt online or download a podcast interview.
In the Spotlight Case, “Order Interrupted by Text: Multitasking Mishap,” while entering an order via smartphone to discontinue anticoagulation on a patient, a resident received a text message from a friend and forgot to complete the order.
Latest AHRQ Newsletter Notes Improved Patient Safety with Medical Team Training
Posted in AHRQ, Culture of Safety, Patient Safety, Prevention Posted November 10, 2011 | No Comments
The November AHRQ newsletter has two examples about the positive influence of team training on medical workers and its effect on patient safety. Dr. Robert Wachter, Editor of AHRQ WebM&M, spoke with Dr. Eduardo Salas, a professor of Psychology at the University of Central Florida who served in the Navy for 15 years, about applying lessons learned from military team work training to medical teams. “Those who know about teamwork do better.” Read the interview and listen to a perspective piece online.
