There are always medical errors being made in health care organizations and analyzing data on these mistakes is essential. Medical errors are inevitable for humans but it is important to try to improve them any way possible because people's lives are at stake. Recently, NORC at the University of Chicago released a study that showed twenty one percent of people reported a personal experience with medical errors (Science Daily, 2017). The article went on to talk about how patients are affected by these errors and briefly how the medical mistakes are dealt with when they are noticed. I was happy to see that the following data reported. According to Science Daily, " Among the survey's other notable findings:
* Nearly half of those who perceived that an error had occurred brought it to the attention of medical personnel or other staff at the health care facility.
* Most respondents believe that, while health care providers are chiefly responsible for patient safety, patients and their families also have a role to play.
* When asked what caused the medical error they experienced, people identified, on average, at least seven different factors."(Science Daily, 2017). I was impressed with how many patients were seen to actually speak up and say they had noticed an error. This means that the patient had a concern, addressed it, and felt comfortable enough to talk to the doctor about it. Making hospitals and health care settings a comfortable place is important for someone who may be stressed and worried about their health or a loved one's health. Patients also seemed to agree that their families as well as themselves, play a role in their own patient safety which I think is key to success. Many of these patients felt comfortable in the setting and with the doctor they were seeing. Creating this bond, connection, relationship with the doctor and patient is not always easy. I was happy to see that many patients were able to have this relationship with the doctor and I believe that if doctors continue to make that bond and create a happy and calm environment, then medical errors can be brought to the attention of one another and fixed. In the long run, these kind of relationships could improve medical error rates.
As we try to move toward patient-centered healthcare, it is important that the patient be empowered to speak up. Interesting to see.
ReplyDeleteHealthcare facilities, and the provision of hands-on healthcare, are incredibly complicated processes with a zillion moving parts, many of which are directly impacted by humans carrying out various functions. Unfortunately, unintended errors to happen. No matter how hard we try (and want) to make healthcare error-free, it's still a long way off. Similar to commercial aviation.
ReplyDeleteHaving been involved in healthcare since my high school days as an orderly, I've thankfully seen a change in the mindset of physicians (not meaning to cast stones at them). Back in the day, their general mindset was that they were infallible, and how dare anyone question their thoughts or actions? I'm glad the current mindset is one of teamwork, open communication, and a patient-centered focus.
I'm also incredible grateful for how digital information processing, data analysis, and the internet have made everything exponentially more transparent. As much as clinicians moan and groan about Joint Commission, I think they (and Leapfrog) have done a great service to patients.
Have you read the Institute of Medicine (IOM)'s report from 2000, "To Err is Human"? In my healthcare MBA program, we have read it multiple times and it is often referred to as being an eye-opener for the health system at that time and a call to arms for improving the safety of the system.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking up for safety is so important. Here at Boston Children's, we have a "High Reliability" training that all employees are required to go through. The goal is to "create a culture of safety" in order to avoid preventable harm to all patients and staff. As part of this, a key component is encouraging people to "speak up for safety" -we have posters of this throughout the hospital.