Health knowledge made personal
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For every adverse event that is reported in a hospital, there are likely 100 or maybe 1000 near misses that often go unreported. Those close calls contain a wealth of information regarding systemic problems within a hospital. Some hospitals have expanded their computerized reporting system to catch these problems. For example, Children's Hospital in Denver did this. After an electronic, web-based, secure, anonymous reporting system for anesthesiologists was put in place, a total of 150 incidents were reported in the first 3 months of operation, compared to four entered in the same time period a year previous. "This . . . provided data to target and drive quality and process improvement." Here's a summary chart of the results:  This kind of program also exists at the University of Connecticut Health Center. As noted : John Dempsey Hospital's goal is to change any negative perceptions healthcare providers and others may have about reporting errors. Staff is encouraged to report near misses. It helps to identify areas where patients’ quality of care and safety might be improved. Reporting a near miss is considered a “good catch” and comes with rewards: Good Catch award certificate. Good Catch lapel pin. Special recognition within the Health Center community. A copy of the award certificate in Human Resources personnel file. Sincere thanks for dedication to patient safety and personal satisfaction. Reviews of all good catches to determine if additional safety measures should be implemented. These are all variations on the theme. All approaches lead to much good and are worth a look to be considered for emulation elsewhere. |
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