Category: Patient Safety

Three resources to prevent medical errors during transfer of care

Three resources to help prevent medical errors during transitions of care.

Co-authored by Stephen Routledge, MPH, Patient Safety Improvement Lead, Canadian Patient Safety Institute and Michael Wong, JD, Founder & Executive Director of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Medical errors can be costly for both patient and hospital. As defined by the Joint Commission: In order to keep patients safe, clinicians should focus on the three key points along the patient’s continuum of care. To help, we offer these free resources:

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Family Caregiving is Like Having a Full-Time Job

Family Caregiving is Like Having a Full-Time Job

By John Schall, Chief Executive Officer of Caregiver Action Network (CaregiverAction.org)

Family caregiving can be like having a full-time job. Caregivers manage doctor appointments, provide transportation, make sure medications are taken on time, and keep the home going – to name just a few of the vital tasks that they perform on a daily basis. This can feel overwhelming. To do all this, caregivers sometimes need help. Fortunately, technology can make life a bit easier for family caregivers,
and can help keep loved ones safe and healthy. What’s more, these services can help caregivers stay on top of it all and enable them to restore some balance to their lives.

America’s 90 million family caregivers fulfill so many roles, but it’s impossible for them to do everything.

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National Patient Safety Goal to Reduce the Patient Harm from Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants (more commonly referred to as blood thinners) are routinely used to treat, prevent and reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), which consists of prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).

According to World Thrombosis Day, 1 in 4 people worldwide are dying from conditions caused by thrombosis:

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Clinical Tip – Avoiding Opioid-Related Respiratory Depression

At certain dosages, the opioids you give to patients to manage surgical pain can lead to respiratory depression — and overdoses can lead to respiratory failure.

#opioid overdoses can lead to respiratory failure, insufficiency, and arrest #patientsafety Share on X

In this article published in Outpatient Surgery, Michael Wong, JD (Founder and Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety) discusses why pulse oximetry and nursing spot checks are not enough to prevent respiratory depression and keep patients safe.

PPAHS Statement on Continuous Electronic Monitoring
PPAHS Statement on Continuous Electronic Monitoring
Don't rely on pulse oximetry and nursing spot checks to ensure #patientsafety Share on X

To read the PPAHS Statement on Continuous Monitoring, please click here.

To read the article in Outpatient Surgery, please click here.

Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety Announces 2017-18 Clinical Education Podcast Series

Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety is pleased to announce the continuation of its successful clinical education podcast series. The clinical education podcasts will feature physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists sharing their clinical expertise and recommendations for improving patient outcomes and patient safety.

The Health & Safety Podcasts will feature leading clinicians, including:

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Was the Death of Erik Nelson Preventable?

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder and Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

According to the Bozeman Daily Chroncle’s article, “Wrongful death lawsuit filed against Bozeman surgeon,” Erik Nelson underwent surgery to correct his chronic nasal obstruction and severe obstructive sleep apnea. Discharged the day after surgery, Mr, Nelson was sent home with a prescription of Oxycodone to manage his pain. Oxycodone is a semisynthetic opioid, which is prescribed for moderate to severe pain.

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Hospital News – What doctors can do to prevent medical errors during transitions of care

In this article by Michael Wong, JD, is the Founder & Executive Director of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety and Stephen Routledge, MPH, is Patient Safety Improvement Lead, Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Mr. Wong and Mr. Routledge discuss what doctors can do to prevent medical errors during transitions of care.

To read the article on Hospital News, please click here.

This is a special rewrite of an article Mr. Wong and Mr. Routledge wrote for Canadian Healthcare Network.

We Need to Focus on Patient Safety to Battle the Opioid Epidemic: 5 Key Steps to a More Balanced Approach

Though much of the attention to end the opioid epidemic is centered on the improper use of opioids in the community (misuse, diversion, etc), the truth is that opioid harm exists across a continuum of care. The safe use of opioids begins with the safe use of opioid analgesics in the hospital setting and the prescription of opioids upon discharge of the patient from a healthcare facility. We must first and foremost make sure that opioids provided to patients are done so in a safe manner both during administration and upon discharge.

By Michael Wong, JD (Founder and Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety)

Opioid-related deaths are a leading national and community concern. Unfortunately, reports of opioid-related deaths occur with astonishing regularity in our daily news feeds.

Though much of the attention on opioid-related harm is centered on the improper use of opioids in the community (misuse, diversion, etc), the truth is that opioid harm exists across a continuum of care. The safe use of opioids begins with the safe use of opioid analgesics in the hospital setting and the prescription of opioids upon discharge of the patient from a healthcare facility. We must first and foremost make sure that opioids provided to patients are done so in a safe manner both during administration and upon discharge. Continue reading “We Need to Focus on Patient Safety to Battle the Opioid Epidemic: 5 Key Steps to a More Balanced Approach” →

This Sepsis Awareness Month, Suspect Sepsis – Save Lives

Healthcare providers can save patient lives through education, earlier detection, and management by being more aware of sepsis.

By Marijke Vroomen Durning, RN (Director of Content, Sepsis Alliance)

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared sepsis to be a global health priority. In doing so, they adopted a resolution to prevent sepsis, and to improve its diagnosis and management. Sepsis Alliance welcomed this declaration. Each year in the United States alone, over 258,000 people die from sepsis. Thousands more are left with life-changing effects, such as amputations, organ dysfunction, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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