Staff-Led Preventive Strategies

Rosen, M. A., DiazGranados, D., Dietz, A. S., Benishek, L. E., Pronovost, P. J., & Weaver, S. J. (2018). Teamwork in healthcare: Key discoveries enabling safer, high-quality care. American Psychologist, 73(4), 433–450.

In this article, the author points out the importance of collaboration among a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, administrative staff, patients, and their loved ones. This interdisciplinary collaboration is vital in healthcare systems to maintain quality of care. Furthermore, the article emphasis the management and providing of safe, high-quality care demands reliable teamwork and collaboration. This teamwork enhances and improve safe delivery of care within the organization, improve disciplinary actions, solve technical issues, and strengthen cultural boundaries.

Koyama, A. K., Claire-Sophie, S. M., Li, L., Bucknall, T., & Westbrook, J. I. (2020). Effectiveness of double checking to reduce medication administration errors: A systematic review. BMJ Quality & Safety, 29(7), 595-603. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009552

In this article, the authors explain how background double checking medication administration in hospitals is often standard practice, particularly for high-risk drugs, but still success in decreasing medication errors stays unclear. The authors conducted a systematic review of findings evaluating evidence of the effectiveness of double checking to reduce MAEs. Included studies were required to report any of three outcome measures: a result estimation such as a risk ratio or risk variation to represent the relationship between double checking and MAEs. Furthermore, to demonstrate the association between double checking and patient injury; or a rate representing devotion to the hospital’s double-checking policy. According to the article, thirteen studies were identified, 10 studies using an experimental study model, two randomized controlled trials and one randomized trial in a simulated setting. The author Studied both pediatrics and adult inpatient populations. Among three good quality studies, only one showed a significant association between double checking and a reduction in MAEs. Another showed no association, and the third study reported only adherence rates. No studies investigated changes in medication related injury associated with double checking. Reported double checking devotion rates ranged from 52% to 97% of administrations. Only three studies reported if and how independent and prepared double checking were distinguished. As a result, according to this article, there is not enough data that double versus single checking of medication administration is associated with lower rates of MAEs or reduced injury.

See, M., Butcher, B. E., & Banh, A. (2020). Patient literacy and awareness of medicine safety. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 28(6), 552–560. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijpp.12671

In this article, we learn that there is an ongoing need for consumer education regarding medicine safety. Doctors and pharmacists remain the most trusted source of information. However, pharmaceutical companies play an important role in ensuring such information is both accessible and accurate. According to the authors, patient safety is vital both during pharmaceutical development and once the medicine becomes available on the market. However, how a patient assesses the risks and benefits of their prescribed medication is poorly understood. For example, patients may lack awareness of the roles pharmaceutical companies and governmental agencies play in ensuring the safety of medicines, and therefore why it is important to report side effects experienced when taking their medicines. In this article the author made their study based on their lack of understanding on what patient’s opinions are regarding safety information. They conducted a survey of consumers to determine attitudes towards medicine safety and information. According to the article, the purpose of this survey was to investigate consumer understanding of how the safety of medicines is monitored and to determine how patients assess the risks associated with medicines. Furthermore, how they prefer to receive safety information, to identify potential actions to help improve patient safety. Based on the author’s study in the article, there is poor understanding of the regulatory requirements around adverse event reporting. The authors conclude that There is a need to empower patients to appropriately report side effects of medications.