Objectives: 1. Discuss the importance of improving patient safety in health care. 2. Describe a framework or theory used to improve patient outcomes. 3. Explain the significance of error and unintended consequences in improving patient safety.

Patient safety is the avoidance of mistakes and unfavorable consequences to patients connected to health care (World Health Organization, 2019). The aim of most facilities is to enhance patient-oriented hospital care. It is important to improve patient safety to reduce morbidity and mortality, reduce the financial effect of patient harm, and loss of income, and minimize problems related to unsafe practices. This can be accomplished by enhancing methods to reduce risks using risk management teams, infection control guidelines, medication regime, supervision and management, secure setting and equipment, patient-centered care and education, nutrition replacement, effective leadership, teamwork, feeling of responsibility and accountability, and reporting practice errors which were all represented throughout the IHI Module PS 101– Introduction To Patient Safety module and the examples provided (Frankel et al., 2017: Leape, 2021). The framework that was used to improve patient outcomes is the Framework for Safe, Reliable, and Effective Care which engages patients and their families (Leape, 2021). The framework can use as a manual to steer healthcare professionals in using the principles of patient safety in all spheres of care provided to patients and their families. In addition, it can be used as an analytic tool to ascertain how healthcare professionals are complying with different areas of the framework and its continuous application contributes to enhancing safety, consistency, and successful approaches to the care that is provided through organization culture and learning system. In addition, Frankel et al. (2017) mentioned three outcome measures namely process measure, outcome measure and balancing measure which can be implemented and evaluated using Model for Improvement such as  Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA)

In addition, Ortiz (2021) mentioned the University of North Carolina Hospital (UNCH) guiding framework (patient-centered care policy) that was developed using Swanson’s caring theory and the Johns Hopkins’ Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety evaluation of patient-centered care in hospitals using a best practice tool known as the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey to evaluate the patient outcome. HCAHPS measures the overall hospital encounter which includes three broad areas namely excellence in a way of life – responsiveness, the patient-centered transition of care, and improving quality and providing a superior patient experience (Ortiz, 2021). This feat was accomplished using organized teams that concentrated on communication, commitment, and data that address performance and were aligned to the aim of improving patient-centered care by implementing best practices.

The article further mentioned the use of Watson’s theory of human caring and the attending nurse caring model (ANCM) developed and used at Massachusetts General Hospital to initiate patient-centered care policies (Ortiz, 2021)  This model provided and supervised plans of mutual, all-inclusive, constant caring–healing techniques for patients and their families to participate in.  The model is vital because it includes Watson’s theory of caring as the foundation of caring theory as a philosophical-ethical base that supports nurses as they embrace a shared worldview and culture to influence thus generating a new approach and construct for care delivery. Hence, theories should be used to formulate policies of care and best practice guidelines to direct how healthcare practitioners provide care for patients and their families thus enhancing patient safety.

References

Frankel, A., Haraden, C., Federico, F., & Lenoci-Edwards, J. (2017). A Framework for Safe, Reliable, and Effective Care [white paper]. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Safe & Reliable Healthcare. https://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/IHIWhitePapers/Framework-Safe-Reliable-Effective-Care.aspx

Leape, L. L. (2021).  Making Healthcare Safe. The Story of the Patient Safety Movement. Springer. https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/id/86b16e7d-3780-4b75-bb06-2a9f6e36893c/9783030711238.pdf