Adherence to safety rules and regulations in hospitals is among the most challenging standards to uphold in healthcare facilities. CMS, federal, state, and local regulations, Joint Commission rules, OSHA, and fire safety compliance all protect those served, employed, and in the community. Administrations in hospital systems know the importance of patient safety in hospitals and set out to reduce risk and increase hospital safety. In addition, they continually audit changes to remain compliant. Consulting with healthcare professionals can lead to a third-party independent review to point out safety issues.
What is Patient Safety?
Patient safety remains a continual challenge for hospitals and healthcare facilities to maintain. However, high standards and following guidelines are not enough to thwart accidents, infections, and other problems.
Thus, the importance of safety in hospitals cannot be overlooked. Patient safety reduces risks to the patient, avoiding emotional, physical, and mental harm to patients and those working in hospitals. Teamwork between administration and staff can identify accidents, educate on avoidance of problematic situations, and reinforce standards to increase pride in the workplace.
Patient safety compliance begins with the administration of the hospital. The administration is where a standard of openness among employees exists with positive communication to encourage staff to foresee possible safety problems. The environment of the entire hospital needs to exude professionalism and patient satisfaction and safety throughout. Hence, education on the importance of safety in hospitals is vital for staff to perform at the highest levels. This also encourages the safest and most secure environment for patients. In addition, reward systems for staff encourage pointing out systems in need of correction before accidents happen.
Types of Patient Safety Issues
Pinpointing the importance of patient safety in hospital settings begins with acknowledging the elements that are the most prevalent safety concerns. Tracking all problematic areas and auditing possible areas of concern also helps the administration design protocols to reduce these problem areas.
Possible wide-ranging safety issues for patients include the following:
- Infections resulting from medical procedures
- Over-medication causing resistance to antibiotics
- Accidents among patients in a hospital or long-term care facility from slips and falls
- Failure among staff to use personal protective equipment when needed
- Lack of following sanitization standards in clinical facilities or patient rooms
- Errors with medications
- Care transition and discharge problems, rushing discharge, usually stemming from poor communication and causing additional readmission of patients
Educating patients concerning safety standards only enhances the goal of maintaining patient satisfaction and safety. Explanations about certain protocols enhance the patient’s experience while helping patients understand these rules and regulations. Education and communication are professional channels to maintain excellence in care. With the proper education from the administration, staff can educate patients and families about safety in the hospital setting. This chain effect of the safety processes reinforces the importance of patient safety in hospitals.
The Importance of Patient Safety for Hospitals
The importance of patient safety for hospitals is vital for reduced costs, compliance with regulations and rules, and increased patient satisfaction. Reducing risks within the hospital or facility setting can eliminate costly accidents, lengthy hospital stays, and readmissions. Hospitals strive to produce the highest level of care in a very competitive market in today’s healthcare industry. Patient safety saves lives, reduces discomfort, and enhances the experience patients have with traumatic accidents and chronic or lengthy illnesses. A hospital that provides exceptional care and safety for patients builds trust between the facility and the community.
Tips for Improving Patient Safety in Hospitals
When striving to produce the most exceptional experience for patients which includes maintaining important patient safety, the administration may need to consult professionals for advice on how to audit, prioritize, and identify areas of concern. Professional consultants can review and audit areas throughout a hospital or facility. Then, they can identify a list of protocols to improve the safety standards of the organization.
Continual maintenance of rules, regulations, and changes in requirements for the utmost safe environments must be managed and reviewed promptly. This will help hospitals stay on top of any changes that must be implemented. Working with a patient safety organization is also a way to explore additional quality-focused and legally secure environments to protect patients’ personal information. Continually comparing data and information collected within the facility, checking benchmarks, and auditing can also help identify more issues and resolutions to those problems.
Improving Patient Safety in Hospitals in South Florida
Hospitals in South Florida who are striving to tighten up safety protocols to increase patient satisfaction and reduce problems in maintaining patient safety can contact one of our professional consultants, experienced with improving patient safety measures in hospitals and facilities. We are ready to answer your questions, review your statistics, and perform professional audits to identify your most pressing concerns. Contact Bloom Consulting Agency today to learn more.
