Risk Analysis in Health Industry - Literature review Example

Risk Analysis in Health Industry Name Course Name Instructor’s Name Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Executive Summary 3 Industry Overview 3 A Major Area of Risk in Health Industry 4 Standards relating to the indentified Risk Area 5 Developments in Dealing with the Indentified Risk Area in Health Industry 5 References 8 Executive Summary Patient safety is an important concern and has become a major interest to governments, healthcare professionals and researchers across the world (European Commission Special Eurobarometer Report, 2010). Numerous studies and researches have been conducted to assess severity, prevalence and causes of lack of patient safety within hospital settings (Duckers et al., 2009). Healthcare industry is responsible for ensuring preventive and curative measures are in place and also ensuring that new infections or problems are not experienced within the health facility. Healthcare industry is faced by numerous risks that include medical errors, falls, and awareness (Cohen et al., 2005). These problems come with different challenges that should be addressed and strategies to prevent these problems are in place (Benn et al., 2009). Some of the strategies that the government and other stakeholders have introduced to improve on patient safety include reporting of patient safety situations, patient safety awareness amongst patients and standardisation and modernisation of healthcare practices (Youngberg, 2012). In addition, healthcare facilities have instituted their own strategies of championing patient safety. Some of the measures include type of floors to prevent values, patient awareness to ensure the patient is informed and multidisciplinary approach by medical professionals in offering and administering their services. Industry Overview Different organisations come with different requirements and difficulties in the way they accomplish different tasks (Duckers et al., 2009). Some of the organisations are responsible for certain human specific tasks such as healthcare. Healthcare industry is an important component within the society and economy in ensuring that human being is healthy and able to accomplish day to day activities (European Commission Special Eurobarometer Report, 2010). Healthcare facilities have numerous responsibilities ranging from preventive to curative measures. Healthcare industry has continuous been successful but sometimes there are risks that are associated with the industry. Healthcare industry is vulnerable to numerous factors that may include policies, government involvement and industry standards. In addition, healthcare industry is faced with specific problems that should put place measures to ensure these problems does not adverse its operations (Byers and White, 2004). Some of the problems faced by healthcare industry may include inadequate professionalism, lack of enough resources and misinformation regarding specific healthcare facility (Duckers et al., 2009). Moreover, risk is inherent in healthcare industry and it comes in different forms that may include new infectious to patient safety within specific facility (Cohen et al., 2005). Usually measures are in place to avoid risks but like any other industry, concerns regarding risks should be continually monitored and corrective measures instituted (Benn et al., 2009). The aim of this report is to analyse healthcare industry on the perspective of patient safety. Patient safety and safety to human resource within healthcare industry is important. Satisfaction of a patient is important and thus maintaining high patient safety standards is inherent. A Major Area of Risk in Health Industry Patient safety within the healthcare industry is an important component. Many patients visiting a health facility hope that the received best services towards solving their health related complications. The aim of these patients is to ensure that they are appropriately handled and taken care of. However, this perception has been influenced by numerous incidents of patient safety concerns. According to European Commission Special Eurobarometer Report (2010), it estimates that between 8% and 12% of patients that are admitted into the hospitals will complain of adverse events while receiving healthcare services. Moreover, the report further states that new infections accounting to 5% have been reported of the hospitalised patients. Medical error is also another component that is common in healthcare facility. A medical error can be defined as either inappropriate medication method or incorrect execution of medication method. These medical errors are commonly referred as human errors in healthcare (European Commission Special Eurobarometer Report, 2010). Errors are inherent in any environment and industry but it is prudent to ensure that they are avoided at any cost (Duckers et al., 2009). An error towards a patient may be detrimental and may result in new complications and thus awareness should be in place. Records, information from patients and information from the medical facility should be analysed and utilised in a manner that ensures that healthcare risks are avoided (Cohen et al., 2005). Falling in healthcare facility whether is it a therapy centre or nursing home facility should be managed effectively because preceding falls is an important factor in determining risk factors that may contribute to repeated falls (Fertleman, Barnett and Patel, 2005). It is paramount to report and then evaluate the situation and circumstances contributing to the fall to enable formulation of strategies to prevent reoccurrences or to minimise impact of fall (Benn et al., 2009). Numerous factors may contribute to reported falls, which may include type of flooring, physiotherapy of the patient and other unique factors that may contribute to patient falls. Prevention of adverse risks and awareness by both the patients and hospital employees may also contribute to numerous threats. Lack of awareness from the patient perspective may contribute to risks such as swallowing tablets that are not recommended either because of negligence or arrogance (Cohen et al., 2005). Such actions may contribute to numerous side effects that could easily obscure the benefits of medication. Standards relating to the indentified Risk Area Patient safety is important concern for government and health professionals and these stakeholders have proposed and implemented solutions that can be viewed as standards (European Commission Special Eurobarometer Report, 2010). Some of the recommendations and standards that are encouraged within healthcare institution include: Reporting of patient safety situations – it is encouraged that compressive information should be reported and recorded on adverse events in an environment, which is blame free. Utilising such method ensures that control and monitoring patient safety is championed (Cohen et al., 2005). Information collected will gauge effectiveness of measures that have been implemented. Patient safety awareness amongst patients – the patients should be aware of their rights and means of ensuring that safety requirements are managed effectively (Benn et al., 2009). For example, it is important for patients to be aware of the authorities who are responsible for complaints procedures, standards that are in place, authorities for patient safety and patient safety measures. Patient awareness provides a mechanism of championing health awareness resulting in reduction of healthcare risks (Duckers et al., 2009). Standardisation and modernisation of healthcare practices – across the world, patient safety is viewed differently and thus it is important to ensure that standards are in place (Vincent, 2001). Globalisation and advancement in technology requires formulation and implementation of safety policies that are applicable to different health scenarios (Cohen et al., 2005). To achieve this goal, governments have formulated integrated programs and policies that ensure healthcare safety is championed across board. Developments in Dealing with the Indentified Risk Area in Health Industry Advancement and developments have been reported within healthcare industry in championing patient safety (European Commission Special Eurobarometer Report, 2010). Actions have been formulated and implemented that aims to reduce risk through prevention of reoccurrence of similar or same safety incidents and ensuring that the system resilience is improved (Youngbery, 2010). Some of strategies championed include: Medication errors – to prevent medication errors, some of the strategies formulated include bar coding, education tools, pharmacist participation in administering the drugs, organisation safety programmes, standardisation of order sheet, smart-pump technology and computerisation of physician order entry. Fall incidents – to prevent incidents associated to falls, strategies such as flooring types, fall prevention programmes and physiotherapy types based on patient condition (Benn et al., 2009). Diagnostic errors – strategies such web-based reminder systems and computerised decision support system that ensures diagnostic errors are completed eliminated (Evans, Smith, Esterman, 2007) Adverse risks and events – measures such as culture interventions, multidisciplinary participation of doctors in rounds, computerisation of clinical information, retrospective review and screening of medical record system and computerised reporting systems (Cohen et al., 2005). These measures ensure that adverse risks and events are avoided within healthcare facility. Simulated survival – Simulation is important since it is associated to training ensuring that doctors and hospital workers are able to handle their roles and obligations easily. Championing these strategies ensures that healthcare risks are completely avoided or similar incidents can be handled better. Generally, patient safety is an important requirement in healthcare industry. This means that different stakeholders have formulated different strategies to ensure patient safety is encouraged. The most important component in encouraging patient safety is through patient awareness. A patient who is aware of his or her rights will easily provide insights and means in championing safety through complains and been informed of what should be done to correct the complain. References Benn, J., Koutanji, M., and Wallace, L. 2009. Feedback from incident reporting: Information and action to improve patient safety. Quality and Safety in Healthcare, vol. 18, pp. 11–21. Byers, J., and White, S. 2004. Patient Safety: Principles and Practice. New York: Springer Publishing Company Cohen, M., Kimmel, N., and Benage, M. 2005. Medication safety program reduces adverse drug events in a community hospital. Quality and Safety in Health Care, vol. 14, pp. 169–174. Duckers, M., Faber, M., Cruijsberg, J., Grol, R., Schoonhoven, L., and Wensing, M. 2009. Safety and risk management in hospitals. IQ Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre European Commission Special Eurobarometer Report. 2010. Patient Safety and Quality of Healthcare. Special Eurobarometer 327. Available at http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_327_en.pdf Evans, S., Smith, B., Esterman, A. 2007. Evaluation of an intervention aimed at improving voluntary incident reporting in hospitals. Quality and Safety in Health Care, vol. 16, pp. 169–175. Fertleman, M., Barnett, N., and Patel, T. 2005. Improving medication management for patients: the effect of a pharmacist on post-admission ward rounds. Quality and Safety in Health Care, vol. 14, pp. 207–211. Vincent, C. 2001. Clinical Risk Management: Enhancing Patient Safety, 2nd Ed. London: Wiley Publishers Youngberg, B. 2012. Patient Safety Handbook, 2nd Ed. London: Jones & Bartlett Publishers Youngbery, B. 2010. Principles of Risk Management and Patient Safety. 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