CONCLUSION
Everyone has a stake in the safety of the healthcare system—healthcare workers as well as the general public. In the past, patient safety was not a traditional part of the education of most healthcare workers, but today this is no longer true. All healthcare workers are being actively educated about their roles in the prevention of avoidable negative outcomes for those they care for. It is essential that all clinicians understand the journey every patient makes through the system, recognizing how the system can fail, and take action to prevent those failures.
To counter errors and safeguard patients, changes must continue to be made in how the workforce is deployed; in how work processes are designed; and in the leadership, management, and culture of healthcare organizations. Because communication issues are so commonly involved in medical errors, it is crucial that physicians, nurses, therapists, and other healthcare personnel work together as a team, respecting each other’s contributions to the well-being of the patients in their care. Collaborative teamwork is essential for optimizing quality and safety in healthcare.
RESOURCES
AGS Beers Criteria (American Geriatrics Society)
Error-prone abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations (Institute for Safe Medication Practices)
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
List of high-alert medications (Institute for Safe Medication Practices)
National Coordinating Council for Medication Error Reporting and Prevention
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