Patient safety implications of general practice workload

"The paper intends to act as a catalyst for the development of new solutions to both fatigue and workload in general practice. RCGP is asking GPs, patients, other healthcare professionals and policy makers for their views on this paper, and suggestions – at a practice, system, and national level – for how GP workload can be alleviated, therefore reducing the risk of fatigue and burnout."

Patient safety implications of general practice workload
Royal College of General Practitioners
July 2015

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Distractions and their impact on patient safety

"These risk reduction strategies include developing systems and processes that reduce or eliminate distractions and teaching effective techniques for handling distractions."

Distractions and their impact on patient safety
M Feil
Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, 2013, 10(1):1-10

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Making health care safer

The Annals of Internal Medicine have published a special edition reviewing the evidence supporting strategies to improve patient safety. The articles included in this issue are:

1. The top patient safety strategies that can be encouraged for adoption now promoting a culture of safety as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
2. In-facility delirium prevention programs as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
3. Patient safety strategies targeted at diagnostic errors: a systematic review 
4. Inpatient fall prevention programs as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
5. Medication reconciliation during transitions of care as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
6. Nurse–patient ratios as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
7. Preventing in-facility pressure ulcers as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
8. Rapid-response systems as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
9. Simulation exercises as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review
10. Hospital-initiated transitional care interventions as a patient safety strategy: a systematic review

Read the whole issue here.

A comprehensive model to reduce harm and save lives

"From 2008 through 2011, a 31% reduction in harm events and an 18% reduction in inpatient mortality occurred systemwide."

The Henry Ford Health System No Harm Campaign: A comprehensive model to reduce harm and save lives
WA Conway, S Hawkins, J Jordan, MJ Voutt-Goos
The Joint Commission Journal of Quality and Patient Safety, 2012, 38(7)

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Deciphering harm measurement

"Improvement in health care quality and safety can be notable when measurement criteria are clear, evidence is strong, and policy and interventions are focused."

Deciphering harm measurement
G Parry, A Cline, D Goldmann
Journal of the American Medical Association, 2012, 307(2):2155-2156

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National Diabetes Inpatient Audit 2011

"This year’s audit has demonstrated progress in several areas but also reveals that there is considerably more to be done if the safety and care of people with diabetes in hospital is to be assured."

National Diabetes Inpatient Audit 2011
Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, NHS The Information Centre, Diabetes UK
May 2012

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Investigating the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors in general practice

"Strategies for reducing the prevalence of error should focus on GP training, continuing professional development for GPs, clinical governance, effective use of clinical computer systems, and improving safety systems within general practices and at the interface with secondary care."

Investigating the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors in general practice: the PRACtICe Study (PRevalence And Causes of prescrIbing errors in general practiCe): a report for the GMC
General Medical Council
May 2012

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Medication knowledge, certainty, and risk of errors in health care

"Medication knowledge was found to be unsatisfactory among practicing nurses, with a significant risk for medication errors."

Medication knowledge, certainty, and risk of errors in health care: a cross-sectional study
BO Simonsen, I Johansson, GK Daehlin, LM Osvik, P Farup
BMC Health Services 2011, 11:175

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