Best-practice protocols: Reducing surgical complications

Fitzgerald J, Kanter G, Trelease R, Benjamin EM. Best-practice protocols: Reducing surgical complications. Nursing Management. 2007 Nov;38(11):35-39.

This article focuses on reducing surgical complications as part of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 5 Million Lives Campaign to protect patients from five million incidents of medical harm. The series of articles presents a nursing management perspective on the six interventions recommended by the Campaign.

Is hospital patient care becoming safer? A conversation with Lucian Leape

Buerhaus PI. Is hospital patient care becoming safer? A conversation with Lucian Leape. Health Affairs (Millwood). 2007 Oct 9; [Epub ahead of print].

According to Lucian Leape, patient safety expert and pioneer, safety in hospital care is improving and it is now possible to get to a level of zero defects. Growing recognition of the need for team training, use of trigger tools, improving the competency of physicians, and full disclosure and compensation to injured patients exemplify positive developments. Yet many barriers remain.

Invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in the United States

Klevens RM, Morrison MA, Nadle J, et al. Invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2007 Oct 17;298(15):1763-1771.

The authors of this study find that MRSA is an extensive and growing problem in the US. It is a major public health problem primarily related to health care but no longer confined to intensive care units, acute care hospitals, or any health care institution.

Preventing pressure ulcers: The goal is zero

Duncan KD. Preventing pressure ulcers: The goal is zero. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2007 Oct;33(10):605-610.

This article describes how to identify patients at risk for pressure ulcers and reliably implement prevention strategies for all patients identified as at risk. The article is the third in a series describing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 5 Million Lives Campaign interventions.

The emotional impact of medical errors on practicing physicians in the United States and Canada

Waterman AD, Garbutt J, Hazel E, et al. The emotional impact of medical errors on practicing physicians in the United States and Canada. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2007 Aug;33(8):467-476.

The authors found that many physicians experience significant emotional distress and job-related stress following serious errors and near misses. Organizational resources to support physicians after errors should be improved.

Protecting patients from harm: Preventing pressure ulcers in hospital patients

Ayello EA, Lyder CH. Protecting patients from harm: Preventing pressure ulcers in hospital patients. Nursing2007. 2007 Oct;37(10):36-40.

Learn how following six steps to maintain moisture balance and keep your patient's skin intact can help reduce harm to patients from pressure ulcers. This article is part of a series that describes the IHI's 5 Million Lives Campaign recommended interventions from a front-line nursing perspective.

Best-practice protocols: Reducing harm from pressure ulcers

Griffin B, Cooper H, Horack C, Klyber M, Schimmelpfenning D. Best-practice protocols: Reducing harm from pressure ulcers. Nursing Management. 2007 Sept;38(9):29-32.

This article focuses on reducing pressure ulcers as part of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 5 Million Lives Campaign to protect patients from five million incidents of medical harm. The series of articles presents a nursing management perspective on the six interventions recommended by the Campaign.

Best-practice protocols: Reducing harm from MRSA

Forsha B, Richmond I. Best-practice protocols: Reducing harm from MRSA. Nursing Management. 2007 Aug;38(8):22-27.

This article focuses on reducing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections as part of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's 5 Million Lives Campaign to protect patients from five million incidents of medical harm. The series of articles presents a nursing management perspective on the six interventions recommended by the Campaign.

Protecting patients from harm: Improving hospital care for surgical patients

Daniels SM. Protecting patients from harm: Improving hospital care for surgical patients. Nursing2007. 2007 Aug;37(8):36-41.

Follow the national patient-care recommendations detailed here to help prevent surgical site infections and other postoperative complications. This article is part of a series that describes the IHI's 5 Million Lives Campaign recommended interventions from a front-line nursing perspective.

 

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Doing the “right” things to correct wrong-site surgery

Doing the "right" things to correct wrong-site surgery. Patient Safety Advisory. 2007 Jun;4(2):29, 32-45.

To prevent wrong-site surgeries, multifaceted protocols that combine standard site marking methods with collaborative processes for verification by all members of the surgical team, such as double checks and surgical time outs, are needed. This article reviews data on the frequency of wrong-site surgery events, along with risk factors and methods for reducing errors.

 

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