Tag: Patient-Controlled Analgesia

Four Technology Recommendations to Reduce Alarm Fatigue

This article is reprinted with the permission of Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare (PSQH).  Improving patient safety is one of the most urgent issues facing healthcare today. PSQH is written for and by people who are involved directly in improving patient safety and the quality of care.

According to ECRI Institute, an independent, nonprofit organization that researches the best approaches to improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of patient care, alarm hazards are the number-one health technology hazard for 2013. Continue reading “Four Technology Recommendations to Reduce Alarm Fatigue” →

PPAHS at Harvard Patient Safety Colloquium

Each year, Harvard University hosts one of the leading forums on patient safety, quality enhancement and medical error reduction. This year Michael Wong attended the forum, The Eleventh National Quality Colloquium, to present on our PCA Safety Checklist, which targets use of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA). Continue reading “PPAHS at Harvard Patient Safety Colloquium” →

Patient Controlled Analgesia Pumps: 5 Sources of Dangers – Part 2

by Pat Iyer, president of www.avoidmedicalerrors.com and president of Med League at http://www.medleague.com. She reviewed medical surgical nursing liability cases for 20 years.

1. Misprogramming the pump

Many errors can happen when the PCA pump is programmed to deliver the narcotic. A point by point checklist is a helpful safety measure that has not be available until now. Continue reading “Patient Controlled Analgesia Pumps: 5 Sources of Dangers – Part 2” →

Four Patient Safety Questions to Ask When Using Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pumps

Project Health Radio recently interviewed Michael Wong, a health and safety advocate and founder of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS). In this interview, Mr. Wong discussed four patient safety questions to ask when using Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pumps to manage pain.

Project Health Radio is a non-profit, Chicago-based national health communications organization specializing in producing and distributing information on health and well being. Their talk shows are nationally syndicated programs broadcast on 106 stations across the country, including WKQX (Q101, Chicago, WAAF (Boston), WWLE (New York), KALI (Los Angeles), KSJX (San Francisco/San Jose).

In this interview, Mr. Wong reminded listeners of the benefits of using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps: Continue reading “Four Patient Safety Questions to Ask When Using Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pumps” →

Sources of Dangers with Patient Controlled Analgesia Pumps (Part 1)

by Pat Iyer, president of www.avoidmedicalerrors.com and president of Med League at http://www.medleague.com. She reviewed medical surgical nursing liability cases for 20 years.

Both physicians and nurses can contribute to errors that harm patients receiving PCA pumps. These pumps are typically used primarily in the hospital for pain control. The premise behind the pumps is that the patient is the best judge of when he or she needs pain medication. Giving the patient control of the pump eliminates the time the patient has to wait for a nursing staff member to bring a pain pill or injection. The theory of the pumps is wonderful; the reality is that they are dangerous if not ordered correctly or their use monitored appropriately.

Continue reading “Sources of Dangers with Patient Controlled Analgesia Pumps (Part 1)” →

PCA Safety Checklist Will Optimize Patient Safety

The safety checklist targeting patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps reminds caregivers of the essential steps needed to be taken to initiate Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) with a patient and to continue to assess that patient’s use of PCA.

Here are two healthcare experts opinion on the impact the PCA Safety Checklist will have on improving patient safety: Continue reading “PCA Safety Checklist Will Optimize Patient Safety” →

3 Risks with Managing Pain with Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pumps

According to reports made to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 2005 and 2009, more than 56,000 adverse events and 700 patient deaths were linked to infusion pumps. One out of 378 post-surgical patients are harmed or die from errors related to the infusion pumps that help relieve pain after surgical procedures, such as knee or abdominal surgery.

In a recent interview, Pat Iyer, MSN, RN, LNCC, president of avoidmedicalerrors.com, Cindy and Brian Abbiehl of A Promise to Amanda Foundation, and Michael Wong, JD of the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety discussed patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps and 4 risks when using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps. Continue reading “3 Risks with Managing Pain with Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pumps” →