Patient Safety
Better Together.Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) and infections are among the most common adverse patient safety events. Many of these events and deaths are preventable.
Medication errors, drug reactions, overdoses and allergic reactions are all types of ADEs. Fortunately, many ADEs are preventable, can impact positive health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs.
- 6 percent of American adults, 65 years and older, take at least one medication and 40.7 percent of those have five or more prescriptions
- Insulin, anticoagulants and opioids are considered ‘high alert’ medications for ADEs
- 52 percent of ADEs for outpatient settings were preventable and 45 percent of ADEs for inpatient settings were preventable
Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) Infection is a major health threat and causes life-threatening diarrhea that is usually a side-effect of taking antibiotics. In addition:
- C. diff causes almost half a million illnesses in the United States each year
- People on antibiotics are 7 to 10 times more likely to get C. diff while on medication and during the month after
- 1 in 6 patients who get C. diff will get it again in the subsequent 2-8 weeks
- 1 in 11 people over age 65 died within a month of diagnosis of a healthcare- associated C. diff infection
Patient Safety News
News
Updated Community Data Reports [Q1 2024]: Addressing Gaps, Achieving Growth and Quality Improvement
Individuals With Diabetes Are at Higher Risk for Developing Sepsis
Be Safe With High-Risk Medications | Great Plains QIN Tip Sheets
3 New Q-Tips For Your Ears Podcast Episodes | Listen Today
North Dakota Resources
South Dakota Resources
Adverse Drug Events
NEW- BeSafe With High-Risk Medications Tip Sheets:
- Great Plains QIN – Blood Thinners (Anticoagulants): Be Safe with High-Risk Medications
- Great Plains QIN – Diabetes Medicines: Be Safe with High-Risk Medications
- Great Plains QIN – Opioids: Be Safe with High-Risk Medications
Great Plains QIN: Act on Adverse Drug Events – Management of Nosebleeds in Nursing Homes
American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
Deprescribing.org
US Deprescribing Research Tools
Anticoagulation Forum
CDC Anticoag Manager
Anticoagulation Toolkit
Core Elements of Anticoagulation Stewardship Programs
2023 ADA Standards
Medications at Transitions and Clinical Handoffs (MATCH) Toolkit
LTC Hypoglycemia Management Protocol
Global Trigger Tool for Measuring Adverse Events | Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Infection Prevention
C.diff Reduction & Antibiotic Stewardship
CDC Symptom Relief for Viral Illnesses
GPQIN Connecting the Dots – Antibiotic Stewardship, Immunization, Sepsis
CDC Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardship-Hospital, CAH, Outpatient and resource limited settings
C. diff Tools:
GPQIN Decision Tree For Diarrhea Management
GPQIN CDI Chart Review Tool
Patients & Families:
- What is C. diff and what symptoms to look for
- Who is at risk for C. diff infection
- How you can prevent the spread of C .diff in the hospital and at home
Healthcare Providers:
- The latest C.diff prevention guidance and resources
- NEW and UPDATED C. diff materials
- FREE print materials (search “C. diff” under “Programs”)
- Answers to frequently asked questions about C. diff
Toolkit for Reduction of Clostridum difficile Infections Through Antimicrobial Stewardship
- PDF Documents: Get Adobe® Reader®
Great Plains Quality Care Coalition
Our Vision: Through collaboration and partnership, we aspire to make healthcare in the Dakotas the best in the nation. We have partnered with committed nursing homes, community leaders and healthcare organizations to improve the care in our communities. Better together.