June 2012 Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory

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Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory

June 2012, Vol. 9, No. 2

201206

Reviews & Analyses

Falls Rates Improved in Southeastern Pennsylvania: The Impact of a Regional Initiative to Standardize Falls Reporting

In 2008, the Health Care Improvement Foundation and the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority partnered to provide regional hospitals with comparison reports for falls and falls with harm. Results of this initiative suggest that a focused response to comparative data can have a significant impact on falls prevention.

Standardizing Reporting of Patient Falls: A Survey of Pennsylvania Hospitals

The Authority surveyed Pennsylvania hospitals to evaluate interest in expanding a regional initiative to standardize falls reporting into a statewide initiative.

Patients Taking Their Own Medications While in the Hospital

In Pennsylvania, healthcare facilities have reported nearly 900 medication errors involving patients taking their own medications while in the facilities, many times unbeknownst to healthcare practitioners.

Reducing Risk of Air Embolism Associated with Central Venous Access Devices

Hospitals can decrease the risk for air embolism by establishing policies and procedures that contain specific air embolism prevention protocols for central venous access device insertion, management, and removal.

From the Database

Falls, a Hospital-Acquired Condition: The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority’s Enhanced Reporting Program

In March 2012, the Authority launched a statewide initiative for reporting patient falls to provide real-time falls rate reports with benchmarking data for Pennsylvania hospitals.

Other Features

National Violence Prevention Training Standards for Hospital Security Officers Are Overdue

The ongoing risk to patients and hospital staff is a compelling reason for a change in the current assortment of regulations, guidelines, and training programs for hospital security officers.

Opportunity Knocks for More Patient Safety Education

Patient Safety Liaison, Michelle Bell, RN, BSN, FISMP, CPPS, discusses options available to those individuals interested in pursuing advanced education and certification in the field of patient safety.

Updates

Quarterly Update on Preventing Wrong-Site Surgery

Since the Authority’s wrong-site surgery prevention program began in June 2007, there has been a 37% decrease from an average of 19 reports of wrong-site surgery per quarter to an average of 12 per quarter.