The Provider's Top Ten Tools for Safe Health Care Delivery
There has been a lot of direction from health care providers to patients in the past ten years since the release of the infamous Institute of Medicine report. I thought perhaps the providers and physicians could use some simple suggestions and requests from the patients to encourage safe care.
What do you suggest for changes, deletions and additions?
#1. Speak up!
The most well-known and respected health care safety organizations (AHRQ, IHI, TJC, NPSF, NQF, CAPS, WHO Alliance for Patient Safety) all agree that communication is the key element in successful outcomes. As a health care provider you are a key participant in the treatment team. If you see or hear that care being provided to a patient falls below the current standards, is at risk, risky, or questionable your willingness to speak up may have a direct impact on the outcome of care.
#2. Maintain Accurate Medication & Treatment Records!
As a health care provider, you must take responsibility for drafting and maintaining accurate and up-to-date record-keeping of all medications & treatments ordered and administered according to required federal, state, and independent accrediting agency standards. Informing family members of how to obtain their own copy helps to improve the patients ability to be an affective partner in the treatment plan. Never change, alter, discard, or destroy the records of a patient.
#3. Ask your patient to question YOU!
Tell your patient you want to continue to earn the trust placed in you. As a layperson there is no way a patient can know all the pertinent questions to ask. As a provider, there is no way to know all the concerns your patient has unless you encourage an open dialogue. It is a good idea to ask the patient "What else concerns you?"
#4. Wash those hands!
Hand washing and hand sanitizing are key to patient safety and avoiding the spread of infections. Make sure to wash your hands directly before you touch the patient. Don't wear neckties and wash the lab coat daily if you must wear one.
#5. Say again?
Provide the patient with written material on the condition and treatment being considered. Written material on other treatment possibilities as well will help stimulate a more complete discussion, Allow time for the patient to repeat concerns and your explanations. You may repeat yourself several times. Small red flags to the patient can offer a physical stimulus for the patient to hold up during the conversation whenever a term or word is not understood or needs further discussion. Provide the patient with a pen and paper to write down the information you share.
#6. Find a partner!
Ask a nurse, office administrator, fellow physician, staff patient advocate, or trained professional to be your “advocate” when you deliver distressing news or information to your patient. With patient permission, this serves to help you gather the emotional as well as informational support you may need.
#7. Just call!
If you have ordered a test, do not assume that no news is good news the patient has gotten it done or received the test results. Put in place a system that allows you to check that this information is gathered and received.
#8. Ask again!
Make sure that all patients have shared important health information in written form and/or verbally as needed with loved ones/family members. Ask for permission to speak with one specific family member that can share the treatment plan information with all other loved ones.
#9. Don't forget the pharmacist!
When going through safety checks in your office or hospital, make sure that appropriate safety precautions have been put in place at the pharmacy filling prescriptions. Provide your patients with literature (or video links) on how to take their medications safely. (For instance, Before leaving the pharmacy, patients should open the bag and check for their name and the name of the medication. Be sure they understand the instructions.)
#10. Listen to yourself.
If you feel uncertain about a treatment plan or emotionally uncomfortable with an outcome, please contact a safety and communication leader within your hospital , clinic, nursing home, or practice. You are the trained professional and you are human. It is important to respect the patient and transparently honor the shared humanity.
What do you suggest for changes, deletions and additions?
#1. Speak up!
The most well-known and respected health care safety organizations (AHRQ, IHI, TJC, NPSF, NQF, CAPS, WHO Alliance for Patient Safety) all agree that communication is the key element in successful outcomes. As a health care provider you are a key participant in the treatment team. If you see or hear that care being provided to a patient falls below the current standards, is at risk, risky, or questionable your willingness to speak up may have a direct impact on the outcome of care.
#2. Maintain Accurate Medication & Treatment Records!
As a health care provider, you must take responsibility for drafting and maintaining accurate and up-to-date record-keeping of all medications & treatments ordered and administered according to required federal, state, and independent accrediting agency standards. Informing family members of how to obtain their own copy helps to improve the patients ability to be an affective partner in the treatment plan. Never change, alter, discard, or destroy the records of a patient.
#3. Ask your patient to question YOU!
Tell your patient you want to continue to earn the trust placed in you. As a layperson there is no way a patient can know all the pertinent questions to ask. As a provider, there is no way to know all the concerns your patient has unless you encourage an open dialogue. It is a good idea to ask the patient "What else concerns you?"
#4. Wash those hands!
Hand washing and hand sanitizing are key to patient safety and avoiding the spread of infections. Make sure to wash your hands directly before you touch the patient. Don't wear neckties and wash the lab coat daily if you must wear one.
#5. Say again?
Provide the patient with written material on the condition and treatment being considered. Written material on other treatment possibilities as well will help stimulate a more complete discussion, Allow time for the patient to repeat concerns and your explanations. You may repeat yourself several times. Small red flags to the patient can offer a physical stimulus for the patient to hold up during the conversation whenever a term or word is not understood or needs further discussion. Provide the patient with a pen and paper to write down the information you share.
#6. Find a partner!
Ask a nurse, office administrator, fellow physician, staff patient advocate, or trained professional to be your “advocate” when you deliver distressing news or information to your patient. With patient permission, this serves to help you gather the emotional as well as informational support you may need.
#7. Just call!
If you have ordered a test, do not assume that no news is good news the patient has gotten it done or received the test results. Put in place a system that allows you to check that this information is gathered and received.
#8. Ask again!
Make sure that all patients have shared important health information in written form and/or verbally as needed with loved ones/family members. Ask for permission to speak with one specific family member that can share the treatment plan information with all other loved ones.
#9. Don't forget the pharmacist!
When going through safety checks in your office or hospital, make sure that appropriate safety precautions have been put in place at the pharmacy filling prescriptions. Provide your patients with literature (or video links) on how to take their medications safely. (For instance, Before leaving the pharmacy, patients should open the bag and check for their name and the name of the medication. Be sure they understand the instructions.)
#10. Listen to yourself.
If you feel uncertain about a treatment plan or emotionally uncomfortable with an outcome, please contact a safety and communication leader within your hospital , clinic, nursing home, or practice. You are the trained professional and you are human. It is important to respect the patient and transparently honor the shared humanity.
Comments
Post a Comment