|
|
2008 Patient Safety Initiatives - Improve the accuracy of patient identification.
- We will ask you your name and date of birth when administering medications, drawing blood, or providing any other treatments or procedures.
- We comply with the Universal Protocol developed by The Joint Commission to appropriately identify the patient, procedure and site during surgery and invasive procedures. This includes use a “time out” before the start of a procedure to ensure agreement with all members of the team.
- Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers.
- For verbal orders or reporting of critical test results, we will verify the complete order or test result by having the person receiving the order or test result read back all of the information.
- We standardized the list of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols that are not to be used throughout the organization.
- We measure, assess, and, if appropriate, take action to improve the timeliness of reporting and the receipt of critical test results.
- We have a standardized way to “hand off” communication regarding a persons needs both within and outside Unity. This includes an opportunity to ask questions.
- Improve the safety of using medications.
- The number of drug concentrations available in the organization has been standardized.
- We annually review a list of look-alike/sound-alike drugs used in the organization, and take action to prevent errors involving the interchange of these drugs
- All medications, medication containers, or other solutions are labeled when removed from the original container.
- Reduce the occurrence of health care acquired infections.
- We comply with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hand hygiene guidelines. Because of the increased risk of infection, employees in clinical and food service areas are not permitted to wear artificial fingernails.
- All identified cases of unanticipated death or major permanent loss of function associated with a health care associated infection are analyzed and reported.
- We implemented a standardized risk assessment tool in our hospital and nursing facilities to better identify patients at risk and communicate this as patients move throughout our system.
- We use state of the art pressure relieving devices, as well as the highest quality skin care products.
- Accurately and completely reconcile medications and other treatments across the continuum of care.
- In January 2006 we implemented a process for obtaining and documenting a complete list of a person’s current medications upon admission to the organization and with the involvement of the patient, family, medication containers, primary care physician, pharmacy, or previous records.
- The process includes a reconciliation of the person’s current list with those which we provide.
- A complete list of the patient's medication will be communicated to the next provider of services when a patient is referred or transferred to another setting, service, practitioner, or level of care within or outside the organization.
- We provide MedMinder cards to patients and the community to assist with the maintenance of an accurate medication history. These can also be found on the Internet at http://www.unityhealth.org/doc/MedMinderElectronicForm.pdf
- Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls.
- We have a fall reduction program and constantly evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
- Our specialized fall prevention program in the home care setting assesses environmental risk factors as well as health related or functional risk issues. We also have a comprehensive home-based fall prevention program initiated for high risk individuals.
- Twenty-four hour emergency response program (Unity HealthCall) is available for individuals at risk and/or living alone to ensure quick response and intervention in the event of a fall or other medical emergency. Fall prevention literature is provided to all Unity HealthCall customers at the start of service and updated several times per year.
- Optimize in-home safety for clients served on outpatient basis.
- All patients of the Home and Community Based Services receive safety education at least four times per year. These are seasonally oriented to promote in-home and community safety.
- Homecare and Adult Day Care clients are assessed regularly for ability to self-manage medication administration. Medisets, special medication pre-fill systems, or other safety initiatives are initiated for any client at risk for medication administration errors.
- Encourage patients’ active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy
- We encourage patients, and families, to ask questions to understand the care being provided.
- We encourage patients, and families, to know the name and title of the caregivers.
- We encourage all visitors to participate in hand washing either with soap and water or the hand gels before and after being in a patients room.
- We offer the services of interpreters for non-English speaking patients and the hearing impaired.
- We encourage patients, and families, to report any safety concerns to the Department manager.
|
| |
