Outside of welcoming new life into the world, entering a hospital
can be an extremely dreadful experience. Whether you are visiting a son
who broke his arm, awaiting a scheduled surgery, or mourning the loss
of a loved one to cancer, the hospital may conjure up feelings of worry,
uncertainty, and fear. While hospitals are not intrinsically
responsible for the creation of all medical distress, they often times
symbolize that which we fear most - the loss of health or life - ours or
a loved one. And, while often times the hospital is a place where one
can re-gain health or have a life saved,the sad truth is that an
alarmingly high percentage of those questions involving a hospital's
integrity, and potential for error, are warranted. Error does exist in
hospitals and the damage can be extensive when it does occur. Therefore
hospitals and medical centers must elevate their expectations for staff
and focus on administrative procedures that ensure the care given to
patients is not detrimental to their safety and well-being.
Hospitals are complex organizations that require structure and well-defined policies and procedures. Hundreds, if not thousands, of patients and family members attend these facilities daily; ranging from those experiencing extremely dangerous, life-threatening symptoms to those dealing with relatively minor irritations. Nonetheless, the hospital is required to keep a thorough record of each patient, diagnosing and treating their illness, and is responsible for relaying medical information properly to those involved in the patient's care. There are many areas where human errors can and do occur. Lets look at the three most prominent tools available to medical professionals, that when implemented and used properly, can eliminate some of these costly mistakes.
1. Health Information System (HIS):
A primary source of medical errors in the hospital setting is the improper use of and/or confusing Health Information Systems (i.e. computerized patient order & data entry programs). These extremely important systems allow the hospital to keep track of each client, prescription drug recommendations, clinical information, diagnosis(es), etc. The potential for error utilizing such systems are tremendous. Typically those who input data into the computer do not come into contact with the patient. If not identified, errors such as; typos, misinterpretation of terminology, or missed Ques can prove dangerous to the patient's future care and potential survivial. Implementing a powerful HIS and developing a standardized protocol with regards to its use can easily alleviate these errors and corporate hardships.
2. Clinical Decision Support:
An underutilized resource that can greatly reduce medical errors within a hospital setting is a clinical decision support system (CDSS). These programs are designed to assist physicians and other health care professionals by instantaneously reviewing the doctor's course of action and determining if there are any significant issues with regards to drug interactions or diagnostic imperfections. Other approaches include treatment order sets such as Zynx (www.zynx.com). The health care professional inputs information into the system; the program helps reduce the scope of potential error by matching evidence to the proposed treatment path and ruling out irrelevant or erroneous options. It remains the physician's prerogative as to proper course of action.
3. Virtual/Web-based Medical Simulation Technology:
According to a 1995, Studies at Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's Hospitals,, 44% of all hospital1 related medical errors are due to a knowledge or skill deficit. This crisis calls for the need to find risk-free training methods that educate today's medical professional. Technology, no matter how sophisticated cannot replace a competent, knowledgeable, well trained physician. A knowledge deficit can be addressed through book-learning and lecture but a knowledge and skill deficit is better addressed through simulation. People learn best by doing. Mannequin-based and newer web-based, simulators such as [www.therasim.com] provide a simple and easy to implement simulation training solution for teaching hospitals and medical schools. When utilized properly, doctors are more confident, more prepared, and better equipped to adequately diagnose and effectively treat their patients. At the end of the day, nothing replaces a knowledgeable and well-trained physician.
While there are many resources available to hospitals and medical professionals today, the three tools showcased here are key components to significantly reducing medical errors - creating an inviting and stress-free environment for patients.
Hospitals are complex organizations that require structure and well-defined policies and procedures. Hundreds, if not thousands, of patients and family members attend these facilities daily; ranging from those experiencing extremely dangerous, life-threatening symptoms to those dealing with relatively minor irritations. Nonetheless, the hospital is required to keep a thorough record of each patient, diagnosing and treating their illness, and is responsible for relaying medical information properly to those involved in the patient's care. There are many areas where human errors can and do occur. Lets look at the three most prominent tools available to medical professionals, that when implemented and used properly, can eliminate some of these costly mistakes.
1. Health Information System (HIS):
A primary source of medical errors in the hospital setting is the improper use of and/or confusing Health Information Systems (i.e. computerized patient order & data entry programs). These extremely important systems allow the hospital to keep track of each client, prescription drug recommendations, clinical information, diagnosis(es), etc. The potential for error utilizing such systems are tremendous. Typically those who input data into the computer do not come into contact with the patient. If not identified, errors such as; typos, misinterpretation of terminology, or missed Ques can prove dangerous to the patient's future care and potential survivial. Implementing a powerful HIS and developing a standardized protocol with regards to its use can easily alleviate these errors and corporate hardships.
2. Clinical Decision Support:
An underutilized resource that can greatly reduce medical errors within a hospital setting is a clinical decision support system (CDSS). These programs are designed to assist physicians and other health care professionals by instantaneously reviewing the doctor's course of action and determining if there are any significant issues with regards to drug interactions or diagnostic imperfections. Other approaches include treatment order sets such as Zynx (www.zynx.com). The health care professional inputs information into the system; the program helps reduce the scope of potential error by matching evidence to the proposed treatment path and ruling out irrelevant or erroneous options. It remains the physician's prerogative as to proper course of action.
3. Virtual/Web-based Medical Simulation Technology:
According to a 1995, Studies at Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's Hospitals,, 44% of all hospital1 related medical errors are due to a knowledge or skill deficit. This crisis calls for the need to find risk-free training methods that educate today's medical professional. Technology, no matter how sophisticated cannot replace a competent, knowledgeable, well trained physician. A knowledge deficit can be addressed through book-learning and lecture but a knowledge and skill deficit is better addressed through simulation. People learn best by doing. Mannequin-based and newer web-based, simulators such as [www.therasim.com] provide a simple and easy to implement simulation training solution for teaching hospitals and medical schools. When utilized properly, doctors are more confident, more prepared, and better equipped to adequately diagnose and effectively treat their patients. At the end of the day, nothing replaces a knowledgeable and well-trained physician.
While there are many resources available to hospitals and medical professionals today, the three tools showcased here are key components to significantly reducing medical errors - creating an inviting and stress-free environment for patients.
1. Retrospective Analysis of Mortalities Associated With Medication Errors; Am J Health-Syst
http://www.therasim.com
Jacqueline Perez,
Summit Strategy Partners
& David D. Hadden
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_D_Hadden
http://www.therasim.com
Jacqueline Perez,
Summit Strategy Partners
& David D. Hadden
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