Editor’s Note: This editorial from the desk of PPAHS’s Executive Director urges clinicians to do better at detecting patient deterioration. Patient monitoring is a combination of the use of technology in the hands of clinicians adequately trained on its use.

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

ECRI Institute recently released its “2019 Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns.” In releasing its top 10 patient safety concerns, ECRI said:

This annual top 10 list helps organizations identify looming patient safety challenges and offers suggestions and resources for addressing them.

One of these 10 patient safety concerns in ECRI’s list is – Detecting Changes in a Patient’s Condition.

Why is this important?

Like a canary in a coal mine to detect carbon monoxide and other toxic gases, which alerted miners of potential dangers, being alerted to a change in a patient’s conditions provides the opportunity for clinicians to intervene.

Continue reading “We Must Get Better at Detecting Patient Deterioration” →