Patient Safety in the Hospital Settings - Essay Example

"Patient Safety in the Hospital Settings" is a marvelous example of a paper on the health system.
In health care settings patient safety is a mandatory requirement. In an argument by Tamuz & Harrison (2006) the safety of the patient is the responsibility of the practice. The authors further point out that a health institution is required to put in place mechanisms that would ensure the safety of patients (Tamuz & Harrison, 2006). Institutions have put in place provisions from federal governments to enhance safety in their health practices. Apart from constitution requirements, facilities have an ethical and moral mandate to safeguard patients.

However, health institutions have not put in place sufficient mechanisms to ensure the safety of patients is ensured. Tamuz & Harrison (2006) assert that numerous provisions and requirements presented to organizations to adherence are difficult to implement. This can be attributed to the high costs of implementation and difficulties to acquire required resources. However, practices have to ensure the safety of patients regardless of the limitation in the implementation process. This requirement has increased the responsibility nature of health institutions. What are the requirements of the health institutions in regards to the requirement to provide safety measures to patients? How sufficient are requirements to ensure patients are safe in an organizational setting?   

Measure your practice’s safety culture

Safety culture refers to the ability of the organization to record minimum numbers of accidents in the hospital setting. The requirements enable the manager to understand the trend of the organization in regards to patient safety. Moreover, this enables the detection of the source of accidents. By understanding the trend, an organization is enabled to prepare mechanisms that would mitigate the risk presented. In addition, an organization is enabled to increase the responsibility of its staff members. Tamuz& Harrison (2006) are of the assumption that the safety culture of the hospital setting should be determined occasionally to analyze the effectiveness of the setting to ensure the safety of its patients. The authors further point out that these requirements should also develop ways that would increase the sufficiency of the culture (Tamuz& Harrison, 2006). For instance, feedback from both the staff and the patients should be analyzed to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the safety culture. However, complaints from patients should be regarded with more sense than the excuses provided by the staff. The management team should also minimize biases in the entire process of scrutiny of the sources of accidents in their practice.

Create exceptional teams and effective rapid response systems

In a hospital setting, accidents may generate from numerous sources. However, the ability of the practice to effectively react to a risky incident promotes its safety culture. Reaction to a risky incident requires a rapid response system. In an argument by Tamuz & Harrison (2006) a rapid response team is required to provide fast assistance to a patient who has been involved in an accident. The team is required to possess all the required skills such as first aid and patient handling.

The creation of a rapid response system is effectively one by incorporating teams into the system. In large medical facilities, the teams should be stationed in different departments to increase the speed at which they could respond to an accident. In each team, a composition of all types of practitioners should be ensured. Moreover, the rapid response system should also be inclusive of facilities that are ready to handle emergency situations. The effectiveness of this system is that it prepares an organization resilience to respond to accidents in the hospital setting. Tamuz& Harrison (2006) point out that reaction to accidents in the form of teams and rapid response system is the most effective way in which a health facility can ensure patient safety. The authors are also of the assumption that a rapid response system also mitigates the risks created by the unsafe nature of the hospital setting (Tamuz & Harrison, 2006).

Ensure safety precautions of tools and medications are adhere to and provision of proper infrastructure

While purchasing medication and hospital tools such as needles and syringes, the supplier and manufacturer are required to provide a user manual. The user manual is required to provide the most appropriate way of using the products. In an argument by Tamuz & Harrison (2006), it is required from manufacturers to attach the user manual that provides means of handling the product available to the market. In the hospital setting, understanding safety precautions before using any resources are mandatory.

This conclusion is reached after the realization that improper use of hospital tools contribute to a high percentage of accidents to patients. Tamuz & Harrison (2006) assert that practitioners' improper use of tools or faulty prescriptions minimizes the level at which patient safety is promoted in the hospital setting. Moreover, federal the use of proper and certified resources is required in the hospital setting. In addition to the provision of the user manual, an organization should train its practitioners on how to operate machinery in the setting. For instance, if a new x-ray system is supplied, the practice has the mandate to provide training to its staff to operate the new system.

In regards to proper infrastructure, a health facility is required to put in place that may cater to all forms of patients. For instance, an organization is required to develop an infrastructure system that supports the locomotion of patients with disabilities. This may include designated parking spaces and staircases that allow for the movement of wheelchairs. Tamuz & Harrison (2006) point out that a proper infrastructure significantly minimizes the level at which patients are exposed to accidents.

From the argument presented in the paper, one may point out that the hospital setting is provided with the required provisions to enhance patient safety. However, the safety of patients is not ensured as facilities cite numerous challenges. Health institutions have, however, improved their approach to acquiring a patient safety culture.