Top Ten Patient Safety Concerns for 2018
Top Ten Patient Safety Concerns for 2018
Published: March 6th, 2018
The Becker's Clinical Leadership &
Infection Control released Ten Top Patient Safety Concerns that should be a
priority in 2018, based on research from over the past year. Below is a synopsis of their findings in no
particular order:
- Lack of EHR
Interoperability- While the adoption rate of EHRs has continued
to increase, poor interoperability remains a major challenge that can have a
negative impact patient care and outcomes.
- Poor Hand Hygiene- Poor hand hygiene adherence was linked
to numerous infections and deaths in 2017 and it remains a top safety concern
among healthcare organizations nationwide.
- Nurse-patient Ratios- Improper healthcare staffing can have
a negative impact on patient care. One study found that every extra patient on
a nurse's caseload increased mortality rates by 7 percent. Many states are now
requiring minimum staffing ratios in healthcare facilities.
- Supply Shortages- Drug and medical supply shortages remain
a major obstacle for healthcare providers. In fact, some hospitals were forced
to delay major operations and treatments due to nationwide shortages in 2017.
- Quality Reporting- CMS acknowledged the current challenges
with the quality reporting system including the many steps involved in
submitting them, taking time away from patients. There are plans to simplify reporting
measures for hospitals and physicians, and determine which measures are most
important for improving quality and outcomes.
- Virus Outbreaks- The spread of misinformation regarding vaccine safety resulted in a
decline of immunization rates among certain populations. Due to the low vaccine
adherence in these specific areas, there were several historic outbreaks of
vaccine-preventable viruses in 2017.
- Mergers and Acquisitions- In 2017, over 100 healthcare mergers or
acquisition deals were announced. However, research has found that hospital
consolidation is not always best for patient care. In fact, it can reduce
healthcare competition, limit patient choice, and hinder innovation and
quality. Additionally, patients who live in competitive healthcare markets often
have better health outcomes and lower mortality rates than those who live in
areas with less healthcare competition.
- Physician Burnout- Physician burnout has become a national epidemic. In 2017 more than
fifty percent of physicians experienced frequent or constant feelings of
burnout. One of the major sources of physician burnout includes EHRs and the enormous
amount of time required for data entry and clerical work.
- Antibiotic Resistance-
Antibiotic resistance is an ongoing challenge for healthcare
organizations and will continue to be a major patient safety concern for
hospitals around the world in 2018.
- Opioid Epidemic. The nation's opioid epidemic poses
many challenges for healthcare organizations, including drug diversion, increasing
rates of overdose, and secondary exposure among frontline providers caring for
overdose patients.
References:
https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/10-top-patie...