Patient Safety Awareness Week March 8-14
FEB 23, 2009
The ABCs of Patient Safety
by Doni Haas, RN and Lorri Zipperer, MA
© 2001 NPSF. www.npsf.org Haas D, Zipperer L. ABCs of patient safety. Focus Patient Safety. 2000;3(1):3.
Accountability is not always about a person.
Blame hides the truth about error.
Cultures must change.
Document facts.
Error is our chance to see weakness in our systems and people.
Focus on prevention.
Gather evidence to support facts.
Hear when you listen.
Investigate cause.
Justice should include compassion, disclosure and compensation.
Knowledge must be shared.
Learning from others' mistakes benefits all.
Make the effort to look beyond the obvious.
Nothing will change until you change it.
Opportunities for solutions are lost by blame.
Partner with patients and practitioners.
Question until you can no longer ask "why?"
Reporting error is suppressed by blame.
Systems are where practitioners practice.
Think about the blunt and sharp end.
Understand the role of accountability.
Value the patient's perspective.
Why, Why, Why, Why, Why = root cause.
X-ray vision sees the deeper story.
You can make a difference.
Zeroing in on cause brings us one error closer to zero error.
Actions to protect yourself:
- Rid your medicine cabinets of old or expired medication
- Bring your medications to your doctor or pharmacist for review
- Obtain copies of all your healthcare records and keep them in a safe place.
- Write down and carry with you all of your prescription and over the counter medications (including doses), as well as any allergies.
- Identify an advocate (either family member or friend) who can accompany you and ask questions on your behalf.
- Talk with your family or other close individuals about what your preferences are for your healthcare, in case you are unable to speak for yourself.
Communicate and partner with your Medical Providers:
- Ask your hospital or healthcare professional about patient safety, and how communication and partnership between you and your providerscan be improved
- Communicate with your Medical Provider about what your healthcare safety concerns are.
- Let your healthcare provider know who they should talk with in the case that you are unable to speak for yourself.