Patient Safety

 

 

 

 

 

Redwood Area Hospital Patient Safety Committee


Redwood Area Hospital is committed to improving patient safety and reducing risks to patients. Effective medical/health care error reduction requires an integrated and coordinated approach of all activities within the organization that contribute to the maintenance and improvement of patient safety.

Redwood Area Hospital has established a patient safety committee made up of the Hospital Administrator, Director of Nursing Service, Quality Risk Manager, Physician Liaison and the Leadership or designee of each clinical area.

Patient Safety Committee Goals
The patient safety committee’s goal of error reduction is accomplished by:

• Creating an environment that encourages responsible reporting of
  process variations and mistakes in order to fix systems that inhibit patient
  safety;
• Establishing priorities that direct resources to the implementation of
  patient safety improvement initiatives;
• Identifying, sharing and implementing safe practices that are known to
  reduce adverse patient events;
• Encouraging patients to be aware of their role in maintaining a safe
  environment ;
• Providing regular patient safety training and education for individuals and
  groups;
• Implementing meaningful evaluation of critical activities that affect patient
  safety.

Accomplishments:
Examples of the Patient Safety Committee’s accomplishments include but not limited to the following:

• Patient Identification
• Medication Reconciliation (a process involving an evaluation of the
  patient’s home medications and a revaluation at discharge or level of
  care change)
• Limiting the use of abbreviations
• Evaluating High Risk Medications and Look alike Medications to improve
  safe processes when working with these medications
• Correct Site Surgery Identification
• Improve the Informed Consent Process
• Developing a Rapid Response Team to identify a patient who is
  experiencing a change in condition and bring appropriate care to the
  patient before they experience a cardiac arrest.
• Oversight of the Safe Skin, Fall Risk and Correct Site Surgery Teams.