National Patient Safety Goals Flashcards
How do you properly identify a patient before administering medications, treatment, or blood products?
Always used 2 patient identifiers:
1. Name
2. Date of birth
How are critical patient test results communicated? How are they managed and documented?
Critical lab results are reported to the attending physician or RN responsible for the patient within 30 minutes with appropriate read back. If unable to contact the attending physician or RN, the Medical Officer Of the Day(MOOD) will be notified. Communication is documented in the comments on the critical result.
When do you labeled medications?
Whenever you are not going to immediately administer the dose to the patient. This should occur even if only one medication is being used. Medication containers and other solutions should also be labeled.
What do we do to take extra care with patients who take medication to thin their blood?
Physicians partner with pharmacists and nurses to reduce the possibility of adverse events associated with anticoagulation therapy by following the hospitals “Reducing Harm from Anticoagulation Therapy Policy.”
What is the purpose of medication reconciliation?
This process is intended to reduce the risk of adverse drug events resulting from interaction of drugs prescribed in our facility and the drug’s the patient was already taking. Patients may access their up to date medical reconciliation on their MHS Genesis patient portal.
How does the command ensure that alarms on medical equipment are heard and responded to on time?
A hospital alarm management policy is in place to standardized safe alarm system management throughout the hospital.
What efforts have been made to improve hand hygiene in the hospital?
Each department’s Quality, Readiness, & Sustainment (QRS) team member has been trained to teach proper hand hygiene techniques. They conduct departmental observations and quality tracers which are recorded and the data analyzed.
How do you screen patients for risk of suicide?
On admission, patients are screened for risk by the nurse. If identified as “at risk,” consults are placed to social work and psychology for an in-depth assessment.
What would you do if your patient was showing signs of suicide risk?
Suicide/safety precautions will be initiated immediately. These precautions include a 24 hour 1: 1 observation of the patient.
Why do we have to perform pre-procedure verification before invasive procedures?
It is another way to check that the correct patient is getting the correct procedure at the correct place on the patient’s body. Staff verify they have the correct procedure and site of the patient when the patient is scheduled, assessed, or admitted for procedure. Items that are checked include a signed consent form, H&P, and anesthesia assessment as well as any necessary imaging studies.
What for elements must be included in any timeout before an invasive procedure?
Everyone in the room STOPS what they are doing to verify and agree on:
1. Patient identity
2. Correct site
3. Correct procedure