HCPro.com: Briefings on Patient Safety

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October 2008 (Volume 9, Issue 10)	view entire issue

Latest Sentinel Event Alert exposes disruptive behavior among staff members
The Joint Commission’s July 9 Sentinel Event Alert concerning disruptive behavior among healthcare professionals is a warning that, as of January 1, 2009, the next time The Joint Commission is surveying a hospital, it will be looking to see that effective policies and procedures are not only in place, but are being carried out.

Pennsylvania association promotes standardized wristbands to prevent errors
Red, green, yellow, purple, and pink—these are the colors of one wristband color system improving patient safety in hospitals across the nation. But the key to success isn’t just the colors; it’s the fact that one particular color-coding system is catching on. It’s common for hospitals to use an array of colors for patient wristbands as reminders for certain conditions, such as allergies or fall risks, but Bonnie Haluska, RN, CRRN, assistant vice president of inpatient services at Allied Services Rehabilitation Hospital in Scranton, PA, says having different color-coding methods in different hospitals puts patients’ lives at risk. The standardized color-coding program she helped create has been replicated in hospitals located in more than 20 states, and it was officially recognized by the Hospitals & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania in June.

Three keys to ensuring your anticoagulant therapy program is ready
The Joint Commission is set to survey hospitals’ anticoagulant therapy programs in January 2009, a mere three months from now. As of October, facilities are supposed to have begun pilot testing in one unit to trial the program they should have developed throughout the past year.

The fundamentals of accountability
Accountability issues can arise with individuals, groups, and departments. Accountability can also be a very sensitive and emotional issue, whether we are at the corporate level or on the front lines. Issues with accountability usually arise when something has gone wrong and the culture seeks a person to blame. However, a truly progressive organization will realize that an investigation starts with human error but does not end with it.

Other recently-published articles from Briefings on Patient Safety:

Minnesota develops rules for preventing surgical errors

2009 Leadership standards tell hospital leaders to make patient safety a priority

Taking responsibility for building accountability among staff members

Work stress and its effect on a professional environment

Family-activated RRTs stress involvement

Early warning system to be surveyed in January

WalkRounds involve senior leaders with frontline staff

Infection control-related NPSG not new to field

The fundamentals of accountability

Three keys to ensuring your anticoagulant therapy program is ready

Pennsylvania association promotes standardized wristbands to prevent errors

Latest Sentinel Event Alert exposes disruptive behavior among staff members

Evolving titles in patient safety: Medication safety officer

Increased documentation added to 2009 NPSGs

California hospital team takes aim on VTE

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