Patient safety
Patient safety refers to the concept that patients in health care settings are achieving intended outcomes. Ensuring patient safety involves the establishment of systems and processes that reduce the likelihood of errors and increase the likelihood of intercepting them before any harm occurs.
We have a keen insight into the extent of patient safety incidents (PSIs) in hospital settings thanks to a series of landmark studies since the early 90s. The overall picture is that a large number of patients are injured due to medical treatment and not their underlying disease.
If the results from the British study (Vincent et al 2001) were applied to the NHS, the risk of exposure to harm for someone admitted to hospital in this country is about one in 10. Around half these adverse events are considered to be preventable. Currently we do not know the type and frequency of problems arising in primary care.
Fortunately we are building on the experience of other industries with enviable safety records such as aviation and the petrochemical industries. These industries have used methods that might be of benefit to health care such as the use of reporting systems, computers and design in reducing risk.
Patients and carers have a key role in preventing harm as do leaders who can build a culture that actively learns from error. Every healthcare worker has a duty to promote and ensure care and to act if they think safety is being compromised.
References
Vincent C, Neale G, Woloshynowych M (2001) Adverse events in British hospitals: preliminary retrospectve record review. BMJ 322(7285) 3 March pp.517-519