Jul
14
How Do You Ensure Patient Safety in Healthcare?
- POSTED BY Németh Jázmin IN Health Care | Safety
Patients and clients must be able to trust that the care is safe. The national government, which link to healthcare institutions and employers, encourages healthcare protection.
Patient safety
In healthcare, patients can inadvertently suffer physical and / or psychological damage due to errors made by care providers. Or due to shortcomings in the health care system.
Patient safety is high on the agenda of the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). Healthcare institutions and healthcare providers are themselves responsible for patient-oriented, high-quality and safe care. The national government is helping by making conditions through legislation.
The government proposes to take measures to improve patient safety. For example, the agreement to permanently improve safety programs. The measures are set out in the initiative memorandum on patient safety and the 2013-2015 Safety Agenda project plan .
Safety in hospitals
Hospitals pay constant attention to patient safety and the reduction of unintended avoidable damage.
Hospitals pay constant attention to patient safety. They do this on the basis of the VMS safety program . This program focuses on 10 themes. For example, to reduce the number of wound infections after surgery. Or the early recognition and treatment of pain.
The aim of this policy is, among other things, the reduction of:
- the number of hospital admissions due to medication errors;
- the number of avoidable incidents and deaths.
In addition, experts have drawn up safety standards for hospitals.
Safety in primary care
Primary care by, among others, a general practitioner, dentist or physiotherapist also works with safety standards, guidelines and protocols. These have been developed by the professional groups themselves. For more information, visit the website of the professional group itself.
Safety in long-term care
The improvement of safety in long-term care focuses, among other things, on:
- the introduction of safety systems in nursing, care, home care and care for the disabled;
- the reduction of drug dispensing errors;
- the reduction of freedom-restricting measures;
- the introduction of safety measures in mental health care (mental health care).
Contribution of patients to safety in healthcare
Patients can also contribute to safety in healthcare themselves. For example with the help of patient safety cards. A healthcare provider can issue a patient safety card and discuss it with the patient. The patient then knows what to pay attention to during the treatment. Or what questions he can ask if things go wrong.
Safety during medical procedures by doctors
Patients are protected against inexpert and careless handling by healthcare providers. This is regulated by the Individual Healthcare Professions Act (BIG Act). Doctors must register in the BIG register . Anyone can look up in the BIG register whether their medical care provider is listed there.
Safety during medical procedures by doctors
Patients are protected against inexpert and careless handling by healthcare providers. This is regulated by the Individual Healthcare Professions Act (BIG Act). Doctors must register in the BIG register . Anyone can look up in the BIG register whether their medical care provider is listed there.