PROFESSIONEvidence-based safety practices touted by governmentPatient safety data will be widely shared with those responsible for safety initiatives at U.S. health care institutions.By Damon Adams, amednews staff. Aug. 6, 2001. A new federal report on patient safety practices identifies 11 practices that are proven to work but are not used routinely in hospitals across the country. The report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality said such proven practices include giving patients antibiotics just before surgery to prevent infections, having surgery patients take beta blockers to prevent heart attacks during or after operations and using ultrasound to help guide insertion of central intravenous lines and prevent punctured arteries and other complications. The research is intended to help the health care community make decisions on improving patient safety. "We are sharing these findings with health care administrators, medical directors, health professionals, and others who are responsible for patient safety programs," said Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. "The nation's health care leaders need to know what the science says about where the opportunities exist to make patient care safer right now." The study, "Making Health Care Safer: A Critical Analysis of Patient Safety Practices," is part of the federal government's response to a 1999 Institute of Medicine report that found that up to 98,000 people die yearly because of medical errors at hospitals. The agency, which reports to HHS, is the federal agency leading efforts to research and promote patient safety. "This is a chance for us to try to help the nation improve in the areas where we said we needed improvement," said agency director John Eisenberg, MD.
[...]
Full text of American Medical News content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2001 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
|
Space invader
The exam room where a meteorite hit a Virginia doctors' office has become the most requested room among patients, who joke about wearing hard hats to appointments.
Story
Feature articlesMedicaid safety net Strong enough to hold? "I'm sorry" Why is that so hard for doctors to say? Sharing your space Things to consider when looking for an office mate Comprehensive coverage
Most-viewedFeb. 8 issueObama budget freezes physicians' Medicare pay for 10 years "Speed dating" matches physicians, patients Columns and series
From the vault: 5 years agoNonphysicians eager to pick up prescription pad Feb. 7, 2005 
|
SHARE
