Discussion Topic 1: Policy Implications of Patient Safety Standards and Practices
Read the case study number one, Moving to a Common Core Interprofessional Patient Safety Curriculum on page 254 in Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide, by Milstead. Why is it important that health professionals share a common understanding of patient safety standards and practices? What are the policy implications from accepting that “mistakes are normal and all human err”? How would you approach health care systems leaders or employers about changing employment policies related to punitive actions when errors occur?
Current Health professionals education rarely delivers common core content about the science and application of safety principles.
There were three themes used 1. Errors can and do happen: It is heat breaking that most of these errors were preventable and happened because of lapses at many different levels. 2. Mistakes are normal: Recognize that its important to be vigilant and proactive on an individual level, and improve systems on an organizational level. 3. Preventing errors is the responsibility of both individuals and teams: Recognize the needs to speak up on an individual level and work together with other health professions to provide safe patient care. Communication is key and check our attitude at the door, speak up and advocate for our patients when we have concerns about care, You never want get lost in the technical details and forget that I’m helping a real person.
Please Include 3 reference less than 5 years old and sub titles for paragraph
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: The importance of patient safety standards and practices cannot be overstated in the healthcare industry. As a medical professor responsible for creating assignments and evaluating student performance in medical college, I recognize the significance of a common understanding of these standards and practices. In this discussion, I will answer the following questions regarding the policy implications of patient safety standards and practices.
1. Why is it important that health professionals share a common understanding of patient safety standards and practices?
Answer: Health professionals work in interdisciplinary teams, and a lack of a shared understanding of patient safety standards and practices can lead to communication gaps and medical errors. A common understanding ensures that healthcare providers can effectively communicate and work collaboratively to provide safer patient care. Moreover, a shared understanding leads to a consistent application of best practices across healthcare organizations, thereby reducing medical errors and increasing patient satisfaction.
2. What are the policy implications from accepting that “mistakes are normal and all human err”?
Answer: Accepting that “mistakes are normal and all human err” has significant policy implications. Healthcare organizations need to shift from a punitive approach to a just culture approach, where healthcare providers are encouraged to report medical errors and near-misses and are provided with timely feedback. This approach promotes transparency and accountability, thereby improving patient safety outcomes. Furthermore, healthcare organizations need to develop and implement systems that mitigate medical errors, such as effective communication channels, incident reporting systems, and training programs that emphasize patient safety.
3. How would you approach health care systems leaders or employers about changing employment policies related to punitive actions when errors occur?
Answer: In approaching healthcare systems leaders or employers about changing employment policies related to punitive actions when errors occur, I would first emphasize the importance of a just culture approach to patient safety. I would then present the benefits of a just culture approach, such as increased reporting of medical errors, improved communication and teamwork, and higher patient satisfaction levels. Finally, I would suggest a phased implementation approach that involves the participation of healthcare providers in the development and implementation of the new policies, regular training and feedback, and continuous monitoring and evaluation of the implementation process.
References:
1. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (2019). Safe Healthcare: Strategies and Tools to Improve Patient Safety. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/safehealthcare/
2. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (2018). Patient Safety Culture: A Primer. https://www.ahrq.gov/topics/patient-safety/patient-safety-culture.html
3. World Health Organization (WHO). (2020). Patient Safety. https://www.who.int/teams/patient-safety/patient-safety
