This week, March 13 – 19, we celebrate Patient Safety Awareness Week, an annual recognition event intended to encourage everyone to learn more about health care safety. During this week, important discussions locally and globally are happening to inspire action to improve the safety of the health care system — for patients and the workforce. We asked our Great Plains QIN team members to share their perspective on the importance of patient safety and what individuals and the healthcare community can do to ensure safer care. A few are included below. Throughout the week, we will share ideas, comments and resources.
We encourage your organizations to do the same. Be sure to use #PSAW2022
Together We are Patient Safety; Better together.
“When we keep patient safety in mind, it keeps the care patient-centered. It makes the caregiver stop and think about ensuring that the care that is being provided is applicable for this patient. For example, there might be a medication that works really well for a certain condition, but if the patient can’t afford it, or if the patient isn’t able to take it appropriately, that sets the patient up for failure.” – Lisa Thorp, BSN, CDCES
A key to patient safety is COMMUNICATION. Some of the biggest issues I have seen in health care is the assumption that communication has occurred, when it hasn’t. Whether that communication be between patient-nurse, nurse-provider, or nurse-nurse, we need to take the extra time to ensure that our questions are answered and we are clear on the information being communicated. – Dee Kaser, RN, CDCES
I committed to working in the healthcare field because I have seen first hand the impact it has on our community. Each person has the right to safe and quality care and I am dedicated to ensuring that I do everything in my power to make that happen. – Natasha Green, MBA, RN
A key to patient safety is treating all patients as if they were your grandma/grandpa or your best friend. You take that extra step or two to make sure things are accurate and safe for all patients. We all want to prevent harm to patients, but it takes diligence to follow patient safety protocols. – Jen Everson, RN, BSN, MHA, CPHQ
A key to patient safety is asking questions. You can’t find out what makes a patient feel safe or what a patient’s family member wants done to keep their loved one safe if you don’t ask questions. Questioning the patient’s environment, medication, behavior, mental status, etc. can help prevent injury. Asking about a patient’s medical history can help prevent injury. For example, if you don’t ask about allergies and expose the patient to something they are severely allergic to, you can cause major harm, prolonged hospitalization, or even death. – Jenifer Lauckner, RN
“Patient safety is important to me because….It enables the patient to receive proactive care that is intentionally planned to address the need and avoid causing harm”
– Jeff Redekopp, MS, RCEP
Together We Are Patient Safety. The Center for Patient Safety PSAW toolkit provides social media templates and printable resources highlighting the theme of bringing the care team together for patient safety. The Great Plains QIN is joining the effort by featuring patient safety best practices, successes, and patient reminders from Great Plains Quality Care Coalition members and advisors. Healthcare professionals and community stakeholders are encouraged to download the full set of messages, post and share throughout the week using #PSAW2022.