Running a health centre is not an easy task. From patient safety to avoiding medical errors, you have to be efficient in all aspects of efficiency. Millions of people visit hospitals or health centres for medical help every day. To ensure quality, many people wonder how to keep patients safe in hospitals. 

According to the World Health Organization, medical errors or inefficient staff harm thousands of patients annually. This impacts the health centre’s image and the patient’s well-being. So, prioritizing safety and avoiding errors is more than just a protocol, and it is pertinent to work on this aspect, too. 

In this article, we’ll tell you how to keep patients safe in hospital.

6 Patient Safety Tips For Hospital

Any patient’s safety in a hospital or health centre revolves around 3P’s i.e. Practices, Policies, and Protocols. As a manager of a reputed hospital chain, I must say that it is very important to maintain these 3 P’s to ensure patient safety in your hospital. Apart from these, there are other aspects of it as well. Let’s understand it in detail.

1. Avoid Medical Errors

The first and foremost factor in ensuring patient safety is avoiding small medical errors. Medical errors refer to accidental errors made by staff. These errors can result from high workloads, complex patient cases, or procedural overlooks. They include incorrect diagnoses or wrong surgical procedures, which seriously threaten your patient’s health. 

These medical errors can be rectified by creating a supportive environment in your centre, regularly overseeing the work of young professionals, and preparing procedural checklists. These errors require a mix of preventive actions and adherence to strict protocols. 

2. Prevent Miscommunication

When it comes to patient safety, one of the most overlooked aspects is miscommunication. A little miscommunication among healthcare teams may lead to fatal consequences. There may be miscommunication regarding the amount of the patient’s medication, or the surgical procedure, which may appear minor, but have dire consequences like death. So, it is pertinent to adopt effective communication strategies. 

The SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) framework provides a structured way for healthcare providers to convey information. SBAR is especially helpful in high-stakes environments, ensuring that all team members understand a patient’s condition and needs precisely, reducing the risk of critical miscommunication.

3. Hospital Acquired Infection

Control of infections is very important for the safety of every patient. Many types of research have indicated that the spread of HAIs has many times compromised the safety of the patient. These infections usually arise from surgical operations. To curb this, infection control policies must be strictly followed in hospitals including measures such as frequent washing of hands and disinfection of surfaces, medical instruments, and other patient care equipment. Regular handwashing and the use of PPE are crucial for all healthcare staff, especially those in high-risk areas like intensive care units (ICUs).

4. Feedback/Communication with Staff/Patient

One of the most critical ways to ensure the safety of your patients is to ensure communication. This communication shall be with patients as well as staff. Let’s say you’ve started communicating with your team members; you’ll find out that they already have numerous ideas on how to be more effective. There are some specifics about their tasks that they may help you with, which may not be in your knowledge. They might also point out how certain equipment or IT systems are hindering their work. It could also be of great help if you ask your team members to contribute some ideas on how the organization can be run more effectively. 

Similarly getting feedback from patients also helps in their safety. The patient can give you feedback regarding your service, and their likes and dislikes. This will enable you to work on your flaws and prove them. You may collect their opinions through feedback forms, or talking to them in person.

5. Monitoring and Evaluating Safety Performance

In order to assess and improve the safety aspect of the patient care process, constant monitoring and evaluation of the processes are necessary. Regular monitoring of data/patients helps in making informed decisions regarding them.

Safety metrics, such as infection rates, fall incidents, and medication error frequencies, provide insight into a hospital’s safety performance. Regularly reviewing these metrics allows hospitals to track trends and make improvements based on this data. Also, make sure to keep a Healthcare Security System in place, which not only ensures the safety of patients and staff but also protects sensitive medical information.

6. Use of Technology

In recent times, the integration of technology in health centres has helped in the safety of patients. These technological practices include managing and monitoring patient data, medication, and emergency alerts. 

Electronic Health Records (EHR) integrate all patient pertinent data into one system for every participating provider. This integration reduces the possibility of data discrepancies or erroneous information that is associated with paper-based records and thereby ensures that patients are treated appropriately without missing any details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions that you can refer to in case of any doubts. 

What are the main patient safety risks in hospitals?

The main patient safety risks involve medical negligence, hospital-acquired infections, miscommunication, and inefficient use of technology. 

How can technology contribute to patient safety?

The integration of technology with health care helps ensure the safety of patients. It helps reduce human error, enhance data accuracy, and enable real-time monitoring. 

Does hospital staff well-being affect patient care?

Well-being is critical for healthcare providers to stay focused and avoid mistakes. When staff are supported and not overworked, they can provide safer, more attentive care, ultimately benefiting patient outcomes.

Conclusion

That’s how you can ensure the safety of the patients in your hospital. A comprehensive, team-oriented approach can achieve Patient safety in a hospital. By improving issues of medical errors, miscommunication, infection control, and staff well-being, you can greatly improve the safety of your patients. As healthcare continues to evolve, ongoing dedication to patient safety will remain essential to quality care.