DIscussion 1 and 2

Consider this scenario:

Jenny J., a 25-year-old woman who is generally in very good health, presents to the emergency department of a small local hospital with a complaint of lower abdominal pain with dysuria and blood in her urine. This has been going on for a couple of days. She appears in no distress and only slightly uncomfortable, which she attributes to the urinary complaint. She admits that she has irregular menses and never keeps track of them but admits to not having one for at least 8 weeks. The department is very busy, and she seems like a relatively simple case. She is diverted to the “Quick Care” department based on her history and appearance. She is seen by a very busy nurse practitioner who examines her and finds her vitals to be mostly normal although she does have blood in her urine. She also has a little vaginal bleeding which she says are “how her periods are most of the time.” Jenny does not seem concerned about this. The nurse practitioner decides, since she is very busy and behind, that this is simple cystitis and gives her an antibiotic. Jenny is discharged and told to follow up with her primary provider (which she does not have at this time) or come back to the ER/Quick Care if she gets worse or fails to improve. Within the next 48 hours Jenny returns to the ER with excruciating pain and heavy vaginal bleeding.

Had the first provider done a pregnancy test (based on the irregular and untrustworthy menstrual history) and spent a little more time investigating, this problem would not have escalated to critical. Patient safety, diagnostic errors, and medical errors are profound and common, as much as we would like to think otherwise (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2019).

How can medical errors be prevented? What is the importance of Institute of Medicine (IOM) six domains of U.S. healthcare and the National Patient Safety Goals? This week, you will apply the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Six Domains of U.S. Healthcare and the National Patient Safety Goals to a case study. You will also analyze how the quality of patient care can be improved and how medical errors can be prevented. Finally, you will identify key terms and concepts relating to quality and safety.

References Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2019). Diagnostic errors. Retrieved from https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primers/primer/12/Diagnostic-Errors

International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations. (2018). Patient Safety Movement Foundation on a mission of getting to zero preventable deaths. Retrieved from https://www.iapo.org.uk/news/2018/dec/13/patient-safety-movement-foundation-mission-getting-zero-preventable-deaths

Discussion: Medical Error

In the past, medical error was a topic relatively overlooked by the mainstream media. Today, stories about medical oversights and mistakes are becoming far too frequent. Patients experience psychological and physical pain and suffering as a result of errors. Medical errors can lead to compromised or loss of life. 

For this Discussion, you will find an actual case study of a medical error that has been reported in the media. You will also explain how the quality of patient care can be improved or how the medical error may be prevented. The case study that you select is used for additional assignments throughout the course.

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the Learning Resources.

• Focus on reviewing the following:

◦ The National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) found in this week's Learning Resources.

◦ The Six Domains of Health Care Quality found in this week's Learning Resources.

• Search the Internet and/or the school Library for a case study in which a patient has been harmed by a medical error. Use the suggested reputable sources found in your Learning Resources to help narrow down your search. 

• Be sure that your case study (which may be an article or video) addresses at least one of the IOM six domains of U.S. healthcare that needs improvement.

• Also, review the list of the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG) as it relates to the case study that you have selected.

By Day 4

Post a comprehensive explanation of the following:

• Provide the APA reference to the case study that you selected.

• Provide a summary of the case study that you selected.

• Describe the medical error in the case study. 

• List which of the six IOM domain(s) apply to the case study you that have selected. 

◦ Explain how each of the applicable IOM domain(s) relate to the case study.

• List which of the National Patient Safety Goals apply to the case study that you have selected. 

◦ Explain how each of the applicable NPSG goal(s) relate to the case study.

• Explain how the quality of patient care could have been improved or how the medical error could have been prevented.

Required Websites:

https://www.ahrq.gov/talkingquality/measures/six-domains.html

https://www.ahrq.gov/questions/resources/20-tips.html

https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/2020/simplified_2020-hap-npsgs-eff-july-final.pdf

https://abcnews.go.com

https://www.cbsnews.com