patient safety & quality
patient safety & quality
By Kristina Pirollo-Ketchum , BA , AA , CHL , CRCST
Patient Safety in Healthcare is Thwarted by Numerous Challenges
Patient care and safety is a core business of healthcare organizations , but problems like outdated equipment , bad staffing , and misplaced resources continue to erode this fundamental organizational idea . Even though the U . S . is considered one of the wealthiest countries on the planet , it does not rank highly in healthcare achievements , with Aghighi , et al . ( 2023 ) stating that “ approximately 210,000 to 400,000 deaths annually are associated with medical errors among hospital patients in the U . S .” The focus of this article is to establish what can be done to improve the quality of care and safety of patients .
The Importance of Modern , Effective Equipment in Healthcare
Patient safety and quality care are crucial elements , and this relies on the availability of optimum and efficient healthcare equipment . Old equipment or equipment that is not functioning properly not only exposes the patients to additional risks but challenges the efficiency of healthcare delivery . According to the World Health Organization ( 2023 ), patient safety is one of the key requirements of any healthcare system . Thus , equipment maintenance and equipment upgrades should be placed high on the agenda of healthcare organizations , and hospitals must embrace protecting patient care .
Impact of Staffing on Patient Care and Safety Staff availability is pivotal to the standard of care since the more staff available , the more patients can be tended to . A staffing shortage causes healthcare workers to operate at optimum capacity , which makes them stressed out and tired and hence poses more dangers to the patients . The AHRQ identifies six domains of healthcare quality , of which safety is one ; this entails minimizing injury to patients as a result of care meant to help them ( Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality , 2022 ). Piling up work or putting pressure on the personnel to deliver more with the available resources is extremely harmful to the patient . Hospitals should therefore ensure that they hire and retain adequate competent healthcare personnel to attend to the many patients that may need the services of a hospital .
High Healthcare Costs and Misallocation of Resources
Holding the highest level of per-capita healthcare expenditures , patient outcomes in the U . S . are often worse than the outcomes in other developed countries . So , the problem is not only how much is being spent but also the way that the money is being used . For instance , administrative bonuses siphon resources that can be helpful to patients via better equipment , staffing , and services . In fact , according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality ( 2022 ), efficiency is one of the six domains of healthcare quality , meaning that resources should not be squandered . Therefore , ensuring that financial resources are moved away from bonuses and other unnecessary expenses in administration towards the patient is going to play a big role in patient care .
Global Competitiveness and Healthcare Quality
Unfortunately , despite being one of the richest countries in the world , the healthcare system in the U . S . is somewhat deficient in terms of providing high-quality treatment . Many other nations spending much less money on healthcare offer superior results for patients . Part of this difference can be blamed on the costs incurred here , such as poor infrastructure of healthcare facilities in terms of equipment and human resources . Therefore , the U . S . must embrace trends from other nations where the focus is more on patient value than on revenues . One way is to set rules and values that would shift the healthcare facility culture toward a safety-focused environment . As stated by Murray , et al . ( 2024 ), patient safety and workforce safety must be core organizational priorities for any healthcare organization . This means not only wearing protective clothing and having adequate equipment , but also ensuring that the whole organization is safe .
Solutions for Improvement
Several solutions could be adopted to address the problems highlighted above . First , improvement and maintenance of assets should be done to provide high-quality , safe care for patients , as a better strategy in equipment management can dramatically reduce patient-related accidents and adverse events . Further , staffing must be just right , beginning with the fact that healthcare organizations need to address the issue of not having enough staff to make sure that they not burnt out or making errors , which will improve patients ’ health ( Murray , et al ., 2024 ). Another solution involves financial realignment , which entails shifting of funds that were previously used in covering administration and bonuses . Finally , policies require adjustment ; government and healthcare institutions must set effective policies to address patient safety , equipment , and staff supply issues . By making these changes , facilities would be bringing their systems up to par and improving the overall healthcare system .
In conclusion , healthcare delivery involves taking care of patients and ensuring their safety , so it should be a major concern to any organization . Proper and modern equipment , sufficient staff , and changes in financial allocation are vital measures to deliver the best healthcare services for the patients . The U . S . healthcare system must shift from revenue generation and productivity to improved patient status if it is to compete in the international market . By deploying different policies and redistributing funds , the healthcare environment of hospitals can be made safer and more efficient for both patients and healthcare professionals .
Kristina Pirollo-Ketchum , BA , AA , CHL , CRCST , is an independent consultant and principal of Ketchum Konsulting , LLC .
References :
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality . ( 2022 ). Six domains of health care quality . https :// www . ahrq . gov / talkingquality / measures / six-domains . html
Aghighi N , Aryankhesal A , Raeiss , P and Najafpour Z . ( 2023 ). Recurrence of medical errors despite years of preventive measures : A grounded theory study . J Education and Health Promotion . 12 ( 1 ), 329-329 . https :// doi . org / 10.4103 / jehp . jehp _ 17 _ 23
Murray J , Sorra J , Gale B and Mossburg S . ( 2024 ). Ensuring Patient and Workforce Safety Culture in Healthcare . https :// psnet . ahrq . gov / perspective / ensuring-patient-and-workforce-safety-culture-healthcare
World Health Organization . ( 2023 , September 11 ). Patient Safety . https :// www . who . int / news-room / fact-sheets / detail / patient-safety
26 • www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • october 2024