Introduction The safety of patients is a critical component in ensuring timely recovery. Thus, patient safety is the process by which medical practitioners seek to reduce or otherwise eliminate medical errors that adversely affect the safety of a patient (Corrigan, 2012). This involves healthcare practitioners emphasizing on the need to have proper reporting and analysis procedures when recording an event (Gogan, Baxter, Boss, & Chircu, 2013). The mechanisms used by America compares with those used in other developed countries such as Canada, Spain, United Kingdom and Australia. The paper discusses the safety of American healthcare system in comparison with United Kingdom.
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Healthcare processes need to be constantly evaluated based on evidenced-based-practice for quality improvement and better patient outcomes. Nursing leaders have significant impact on quality management and empowering employees to seek process improvement. In my paper, I will discuss application of PDSA cycle in quality improvement to decrease catheter-associated-urinary-tract-infections (CAUTIs) among elderly patients. Gained knowledge will help with identification of strategy to reduce the number of CAUTIs in acute care settings. Furthermore, staff will be empowered to improve the delivery of care to this population and management will revise existing policies and procedures to provide standards for improved practice.
The data from putting the two together is used to improve the care provided in the hospital. The second principle was to focus on the patient and his or her needs (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). This is very important for patient safety because if the improvement the organization is making does not benefit the patient and fulfill their needs then there are multiple risk factors for medical mistakes. The improvement should include patient access, care that is given to the patient should be evidence-based, patient safety, encourage patient participation, and patient involved communication. The third principle was team effort.
Vitamin D: beneficial for pain, fracture, and falls in long-term care residents?. Annals of long term care, 19(5), 33-36. Risk factors for falls in older people in nursing homes and hospitals. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of gerontology & geriatrics, 56(3), 407-415. doi:10.1016/j.archger.2012.12.006 Sterke, C. S., Ziere, G., van Beeck, E. F., Looman, C. N., & Van Der Cammen, T. M. (2012).
Medication use and increased risk of falls in hospitalized elderly patients: A retrospective, case-control study. Drugs & Aging, 26(10), 847-852. doi:10.2165/11317610-000000000-00000 Rosario, E. R., Kaplan, S. E., Khonsari, S., & Patterson, D. (2014). Predicting and assessing fall risk in an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility. Rehabilitation Nursing, 39(2), 86-93. doi:10.1002/rnj.114 Rush, K. L., Robey-Williams, C., Patton, L. M., Chamberlain, D., Bendyk, H., & Sparks, T. (2009). Patient falls: acute care nurses' experiences.
This nurse leader is an advocate in all aspects of patient care. Nurses have to inform the patients, the plan of care, explain the treatment and its options, notify the adverse effects on time through the appropriate channel or requirement of the facility ("Patient Safety," 2002, p. 1). Early detection of risk groups and prevention of harm is critical in the patient care. Appropriate staffing, safe working environment and trained staff s are necessary for the enhancement of patient safety. This nurse leader believes nurses and national nurses association have a responsibility to inform patients and family of potential risks; report adverse effects; improve communication with patient and family; adequate staffing; promote infection control programs; standardized treatment policies and protocols; accurate administration of medicine and recognize the health care provider who delivering excellence in patient safety ("Patient Safety," 2002, p. 1).
Continuous quality care in the healthcare setting is critical. Risk management, patient safety, and full-disclosure programs play essential roles in quality care. Preventing medical errors, acknowledging the problem, and finding ways to resolve these issues are the program’s main goals. Implementing certain regulations can help decrease future errors and claims. “A successful risk management and full-disclosure program requires well-defined policies and procedures for responding to preventable adverse events, coupled with a dedication to transparency.” (Youngberg, 2011).
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Early stages of sepsis and clinical manifestations are discussed in the article, “Helping Patients Survive Sepsis,” with emphasis on the i... ... middle of paper ... ...urses are at the bedside 24 hours a day they can greatly impact patient outcomes and decrease the overall mortality rate of sepsis by using the evidence-based practices outlined in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. Reference Page Bernstein, M., & Lynn, S. (2013). Helping patients survive sepsis. American Nurse Today, 8(1), 24-28. Retrieved from http://www.americannursetoday.com/article.