The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety marked its fifth anniversary on July 27. In honor of this anniversary, the alliance's founder and executive director, Michael Wong, JD, offered five strategies to enhance patient safety.
Here are five things to know:
1. Mr. Wong recommended checking out ECRI Institute's "2016 Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns for Healthcare Organizations." The document pinpoints poor monitoring of respiratory depression as the most preventable harm.
2. Utilize capnography monitoring for patients taking opioids, Mr. Wong advised. The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, the Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry all support capnography monitoring.
3. St. Joseph's/Candler Health System in Savannah, Ga., excels at patient safety, saving $4 million in estimated potential expenses averted between 2002 and 2007. Mr. Wong suggests institutions learn from its initiatives.
4. Implement the highest safety standards to prevent major errors and avoid liability claims.
5. Read up on the Respiratory Compromise Institute to lower the incidence of respiratory compromise in healthcare facilities.
