Patient Safety

What Are The Key Elements Of Patient Safety?

SonderCare Learning Center

What Are The Key Elements Of Patient Safety? Patients receive more benefits from healthcare than ever before. However, how this care is delivered is also more complex. New technologies and medications not only bring new potentials in healing and recovery, but they bring new potentials for harm. For any healthcare provider, company, or caregiver, “patient safety” isn’t a self-evident term – it’s a dynamic and ongoing process.

Learn About The Most Important Foundations of Patient Safety

What Is Patient Safety And Why Is It Important?

When a patient receives care, they expect empathy, respect, and clinical professionalism throughout their recovery. Underscoring all this is the idea that they will be safe while in their care. While the patient might take this for granted, healthcare organizations and caregivers work hard to protect their charges from accidental infections, injuries, and medical errors.

Patient safety refers to how healthcare workers and facilities account for the increasingly complex settings and systems that can lead to mistakes. There are many potential points of error – for instance, poor communication between healthcare providers, no standard procedures for storing medications and disregarding the involvement of patients in their care. These can all be factors that undermine patient safety.

What Is Patient Safety Culture And How Is It Introduced?

To achieve a high standard of patient well-being, health care delivery organizations must adopt a culture of safety. “Patient safety culture” is when all members of a healthcare institution are equally committed to putting patient safety first. Everyone must engage in actions that reflect that commitment.

Safety culture is an integrated pattern of individual and organizational behavior based upon shared beliefs and values. It always seeks to minimize harm to patients that can inadvertently result from the processes of care delivery. There are four key elements:

A transparent approach
Leading by example
Policies
A just culture

Patient Safety Elements: Transparency, Leadership, Policies, Validation & A Just Culture

A high-quality culture starts with a transparent approach to reporting incidents and unsafe conditions that do not punish those doing the reporting. If all team members feel comfortable communicating incidents, it results in improved outcomes and organizational change that keeps all patients safe.

Maintaining this culture rests on everyone in a healthcare organization, from administrative staff and frontline workers to contract employees and volunteers. However, patient safety starts at the top. When managers and caregivers lead by example, they can decrease or eliminate any feelings of intimidation. In turn, this will increase the probability of staff coming forward to report errors and safety concerns.

Of course, there would be no patient safety without procedures based on a systematic review. Organizations must create and follow policies that support positive outcomes. They must make systems and policies for reporting adverse events, near misses and unsafe conditions that can lead to further patient injuries. Leaders must communicate these procedures to staff, make them accessible to everyone, and enforce them.

Finally, patient safety culture must be a just culture. “Just culture” means that the procedures recognize all team members who report incidents, events and near misses or have good suggestions for patient safety improvements.

These key elements of patient safety affect everything in the hospital or care facility – right down to the hospital beds. How do hospital beds fit in?

How Do Hospital Beds Fit In With Patient Safety?

Hospital beds meet the diverse needs of healthcare facilities; through the years, equipment manufacturers have designed these beds to be useful for many patient care needs. Features such as height and position adjustments, bed rails, and supportive mattresses distinguish hospital beds from conventional and adjustable beds.

For example, hospital beds can minimize falls, the most common incident associated with seniors using conventional flat beds. High-low functionality lets them and their caregivers raise the bed height to reduce the need for assistance when they move from a sitting position to standing. Lowering the bed height to its lowest height position can reduce the severity of injury in the event of a fall.

Patient safety can also apply to ensure the bed is safe to use. Caregivers must follow necessary training, inspection protocols, routine maintenance and safety checks. Where the bed is being used doesn’t matter, though – whether it’s in a rehabilitation facility, nursing home, or private residence, a SonderCare hospital bed will fit in with a culture of safety.

Frequently Asked Questions About Establishing Patient Safety Practices

How do you put patient safety into practice?

Patients should have access to EHR data and doctor notes. Concern for the hospital environment, Create a secure environment for patients. Schedule appointments in a straightforward and timely manner. Encourage caregivers and family members to participate.

What are good examples of patient safety

Lack of basic healthcare services, particularly in regard to food, hydration, and pressure area care; misinterpretation, typically due to diagnostic overshadowing and communication challenges; delayed examinations and treatment; non-treatment decisions are all factors that need to be identified and fixed to ensure patient safety is met.

Start Your Patient Safety Products Inventory With SonderCare

Are you recently discharged from hospital, experiencing mobility issues, or in need of palliative or senior care? Enjoy a smoother recovery and get the luxury you deserve by choosing our home hospital products. Contact us today to discuss home hospital beds, mattresses, stand assist chairs and other accessories to make your home hospice perfect for a truly comfortable experience.

Explore Other Patient Safety Articles

Read the latest SonderCare
Patient Safety Articles

Are you looking for the most recent articles on patient safety? Browse our latest resources below and let us know if you have any questions. We’re here to support you as you embark on your road to home medical care.