The Importance of Improving Patient Safety at Hospitals
The healthcare system of the UK has been though amazing improvements over the recent years. Improved systems, new technology, better infrastructure along with better training facilities have all led to a great reduction in faults and mistakes. That being said, erros are an inevitable element of human lives. Humans inevtiably commit errors, and these errors committed by someone else end up causing the other person to suffer from them. All mistakes can be rectified and forgiven, but if these errors are committed in the medical facilities, they can create a great mess. The medical staff, doctors, and nurses should always strictly follow all the safety precautions, and standard operating procedures to make sure safety for patient is guaranteed.
Hospital management, private clinic operators, or individual practitioners can undertake these steps to minimise and ultimately eradicate the issues for patients.
- Focus On Preventing Re-Admissions
The hospital administration should put in their maximum effort to reduce readmissions. No person in the world would ever want to get admitted back to the hospital after getting discharged unless they feel the dire need to. The medical facility’s management can appoint an individual staff member to keep check on all the history of a certain patient. They can then work closely with other members of the hospital to prescribe the patient all the medicines they require along with a structured schedule for follow-ups and appointments. The discharge plan given to the patient should include all the medical appointments that will come afterward. Moreover, the patients should also be given the doctor’s contact details if they wish to get in touch for any reason.
- Put In Efforts To Reduce Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections
Central line-associated blood infections are generally caused when the central venous catheter is inserted. The hospital staff and doctors must always be very careful while carrying out this procedure. All such infections can be avoided if the SOPs are religiously followed. These SOPs include washing hands thoroughly for 20 seconds with an alcohol-based cleaner, removing all unnecessary lines, avoiding femoral lines, and making use of full-barrier precautions. A vast majority of studies have proven that all these steps can play a vital role in cutting down the possibility of fatal infections.
- teach Patients About How To Use Blood Thinners
Typically, when patients get off from the hospital after they have had surgery, they are given a multitude of medicines. Among these medicines are blood thinners. The purpose of these blood thinners is to assist these patients from developing blood clots that can be very painful. The problem here is that the hospital staff or doctors do not give the required instructions on the right usage of these blood thinners. These thinners if used in the wrong manner, can result in severe bleeding and other major health problems. The hospital management can avoid and reduce this problem by giving the discharged patients with structured detailed guidelines for using blood thinners. Scheduling online meet-ups with patients to check up on them and counselling them about their medicines can play a very impactful role.
- Make Sure The Hospital Staff Is Not Over-worked
Any human is bound to make mistakes if they are overworked and over-burdened. Many studies and research prove that medical staff that is highly exhausted because of working in a high-intensity environment with no breaks tend to commit a lot of mistakes. The hospital administration can resolve this issue by making sure that these medical residents get enough amount of sleep and rest to refuel their energies. Moreover, nobody should be made to work more than 80 hours a week and any staff member that is doing the 30-hour long shift, should not treat patients for more than 16 hours.
It is safe to say that most of the hospitals and clinics in the UK are fulfilling their responsibilities and duties to provide their patients with the right treatment, and the healthcare system has been improving significantly. That being said, the element of human error still resides, and it can only be diminished. If you or someone you know has been through any sort of medical negligence in Scotland, know that you have the right to submit a medical negligence claim. Contact Hamilton Douglas Legal at your earliest and get in touch with the best solicitor to handle your issue.
