Public Health 3 Flashcards
Error
Unintended outcome
Why is safety in healthcare so often compromised?
Complex
High-risk environment
Resource intensive
System, patient and practitioners’ interactions
Shared responsibilities
Practitioners unknowingly take risks
Common issues leading to accidents and safety in healthcare?
Wrong diagnosis = Wrong plan
Medication reconciliation
High concentration medication
Patient identification
Patient care handovers
Classification of errors
Based on intention
Based on action
Based on outcome
Based on context
Error based on intention
Failure of planned actions to achieve desired outcome
Skill-based errors - Action made was not intended
Rule-based mistakes - Incorrect application of a rule
Knowledge-based mistakes
Limited attentional resources
Memory containing mini-theories rather than fact
Error based on action
Generic factors
- Omission
- Intrusion
- Wrong order
- Mistiming
Task specific factors
- Wrong vessel/organ/side
- Bad knots
Error based on outcome
Near miss Successful detection and recovery Death/injury or loss of function Prolonged intubation - ICU Cost of litigation Unplanned transfer
Error based on context
Anticipations and perseverations
Interruptions and distractions
Team factors
Organised factors
Equipment and staffing issues
Nature of procedure
Accumulation of stressors
Person approach to error
Focus on the individual
- Error are the product of wayward mental processes
- Focuses on unsafe acts of people on the front-line
- Shortcomings - Anticipation of blame promotes cover-up
- Requires detailed analysis to prevent recurrence
System approach to error
Focus on working conditions
- Errors are commonplace - The product of many causal factors
- Remedial efforts directed at removing error traps and strengthening defences
- Interaction between active failures and latent conditions
- Protective risk management - Remedy latent factors
Tools of risk identification
Incident reporting Complaints and claims Audit, service evaluation and benchmarking External accreditation Active measures/compliance
Never events
Serious Largely preventable Patient safety incidents Should not occur IF available preventative measures have been implemented
Surgery - Wrong site, retained item
Medication - Wrong preparation or ROA
Mental health - Suicide
Leadership styles
Inspirational
Transactional
Laissez-faire
Transformational - Inclusive leadership is distributed throughout all levels of organisation
Sloth error
Not bothering to check results or accuracy of information
Incomplete evaluation
Inadequate documentation
How to prevent sloth errors
Conscientiousness
- Attention to detail
- Completeness
- Not assuming all information to be correct
- Full documentation
Fixation and loss of perspective error
Early unshakable focus on a diagnosis
Inability to see the bigger picture
Overlooking warning signs
How to prevent fixation and loss of perspective
Open mindedness
Situational awareness
Recognition of clinical patterns
But considering facts that don’t fit
Re-evaluation if deviation from the expected
Communication breakdown error
Unclear instructions or plans
Not listening to or considering others opinions
How to prevent communication breakdown error
Effective communication
Being approachable and open Listening Clear explanations Appropriate terminology Reinforcement
Poor teamwork error
Team members working independently
Poor direction
Some individuals out of their depth
Staff under-utilised