Assessment 4 improvement plan tool kit

assessment1.docx

Enhancing Quality and Safety

Patient Identification Errors in Healthcare

Healthcare institutions and providers always do their best to create a safe patient environment. However, the complications of the healthcare system raise many questions related to patient safety. BSN nurses are essential in identifying and expressing relevant patient risk factors and establishing evidence-based interventions that would improve patient safety and interdisciplinary patient-centered care. Among the critical questions of patient safety and health care, on the whole, underlying it, are patient identification errors. Mistakes in patient identification represent a considerable safety issue in health environments, with possible effects on patient welfare and the functioning of health care systems (Popescu et al., 2022). Precise patient identification is an essential part of health care service safety. The paper will explore the identification of errors of patients, causes, best practice solutions, and how nurses can help coordinate care.

Factors Leading to Patient Identification Errors

Major factors that contribute to patient identification errors in healthcare settings incorporate human error, inadequate training, poor communication, systemic failures, and patient characteristics. Human errors perpetrated because of tiredness, cognitive work overload, and distraction lead to mistakes in correctly identifying patients in time (Aghighi et al., 2022). The professionals in the health sector, who usually work long shifts or under tight schedules, may greatly suffer from human error. Errors result from inadequate training in proper procedures for identification. Sufficient training of healthcare workers should allow them to follow protocols and use the correct identification technologies. Insufficient communication among healthcare providers may create an error in patient identification. Miscommunication at handover, shift changes, or between inter-departments may result in the incorrect patient receiving the correct treatment. Defects in the health care service, such as poor standardization in the identification process or failure in the optimum use of technology, may result in errors. Poor concordance in practices among different units or facilities can also create confusion and errors. Finally, patient factors, including patients with similar names, unconscious patients, or those unable to communicate their identity, pose significant challenges. The confirmation process exposes even more challenges when a language barrier and cultural differences are involved.

Evidence-Based and Best-Practice Solutions

Implementing evidence-based and best-practice solutions can significantly reduce patient identification errors. One effective solution is using barcode technology and electronic health records (EHRs) for patient identification. Barcode technology in EHR wristbands is scanned before the administration of drugs or treatments to ensure the correct patient is identified (Mulac, 2021). Another solution is adopting a two-factor identification process. Two-factor identification, such as the patient's name and date of birth, gives double-check measures before a procedure. Standard Protocols put into place can identify patients entering all departments and facilities. The protocols might include using identification technologies and manual checking of identifications with the assistance of guidelines. Additionally, health professionals must continue to be educated in identifying correct procedures and adhering to laid-down protocols. Training could be incorporated into simulation and competency-based assessments for learning enhancement. Additionally, involving the patients in the identification process can further reduce errors. If patients are encouraged to be active and share correct confirming information or knowledge about the identification procedures, then the process may gain accuracy.

Role of Nurses in Coordinating Care

Nurses are vital in coordinating care to increase patient safety and reduce costs. Nurses help in protocol implementation, education and advocacy, interdisciplinary communication, quality improvement initiatives, and the use of technology. Nurses are more often charged with carrying out identification protocols. They will not risk any mishaps when they strictly adhere to standard procedures. Nurses can advocate for patient and family education regarding the importance of correct identification. Encouraging patient participation in the identification process empowers them to be actively involved in their care process (Flaubert, 2021). Nurses facilitate communications among interdisciplinary healthcare teams. An essential requirement for this interdisciplinary communication depends upon the assurance that information passed between one member to the other on handovers and exchange of shifts is transmitted correctly. Tools such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) standardize communication and minimize errors. Nurses can also develop or participate in quality improvement initiatives to reduce identification errors. Through data analysis and finding trends, nurses help implement evidence-based resolutions for patient safety. Additionally, technologies used in healthcare, like barcode scanners and EHRs, have nurses' active, direct involvement. Their adept professionalism in using such tools assures the identification process is followed accurately with a minimized possibility of errors.

Stakeholders in Driving Safety Enhancements

Identifying and collaborating with key stakeholders is essential for driving safety enhancements related to patient identification errors. Healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, and other frontline staff, identify patients. Their adherence to protocols and commitment to safety are crucial for reducing errors. Patients and family involved in identification help comprehend and affirm their identity. Healthcare administrators implement and maintain identification protocols. Their resources, training, and technology will help implement protocols (Cho et al., 2020). Multidisciplinary quality improvement teams identify and implement improvements. Their role in analyzing data and monitoring outcomes is critical for sustained safety enhancements. Regulatory and accreditation bodies, such as The Joint Commission and QSEN, set patient safety requirements. Standards offer a path for continuous compliance and accreditation engagement improvement. Suppliers of identifying technology like barcode systems and EHRs also ensure tool efficiency, resulting in user-friendly and reliable technology.

Conclusion

Patient identification inaccuracies endanger patient safety and healthcare operations. Multifactor techniques for developing evidence-based solutions, active nursing, and stakeholder involvement can address errors. Standardized protocols, technology, patient engagement, and interdisciplinary teamwork can reduce identification errors in healthcare organizations and create a patient identification safety culture. Baccalaureate-prepared nurses guide initiatives and coordinate care to promote high safety and quality in healthcare environments. With dedication and excellent practice, these efforts will reduce patient identification errors and improve patient safety.

References

Aghighi, N., Aryankhesal, A., & Raeissi, P. (2022). Factors affecting the recurrence of medical errors in hospitals and the preventive strategies: a scoping review. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, 15(7). https://doi.org/10.18502/jmehm.v15i7.11049

Cho, I., Lee, M., & Kim, Y. (2020). What are the main patient safety concerns of healthcare stakeholders: a mixed-method study of web-based text. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 140(1), 104162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104162

Flaubert, J. L. (2021). The role of nurses in improving health care access and quality. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573910/

Mulac, A. (2021). Barcode medication administration technology use in hospital practice: A mixed-methods observational study of policy deviations. BMJ Quality & Safety, 30(12), 1021–1030. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2021-013223

Popescu, C., Chaarani, H. E., Abiad, Z. E., & Gigauri, I. (2022). Implementation of health information systems to improve patient identification. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15236. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192215236

Forthisassessment.docx

For this assessment, you will develop a Word document or an online resource repository of at least 12 annotated professional or scholarly resources that you consider critical for the audience of your safety improvement plan to understand or implement to ensure the success of the plan.

INTRODUCTION

Communication in the health care environment consists of an information-sharing experience whether through oral or written messages (Chard & Makary, 2015). As health care organizations and nurses strive to create a culture of safety and quality care, the importance of interprofessional collaboration, the development of tool kits, and the use of wikis become more relevant and vital. In addition to the dissemination of information and evidence-based findings and the development of tool kits, continuous support for and availability of such resources are critical. Among the most popular methods to promote ongoing dialogue and information sharing are blogs, wikis, websites, and social media. Nurses know how to support people in time of need or crisis and how to support one another in the workplace; wikis in particular enable nurses to continue that support beyond the work environment. Here they can be free to share their unique perspectives, educate others, and promote health care wellness at local and global levels (Kaminski, 2016).

You are encouraged to complete the Determining the Relevance and Usefulness of Resources activity prior to developing the repository. This activity will help you determine which resources or research will be most relevant to address a particular need. This may be useful as you consider how to explain the purpose and relevance of the resources you are assembling for your tool kit. The activity is for your own practice and self-assessment, and demonstrates course engagement.

PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT

Nurses are often asked to implement processes, concepts, or practices—sometimes with little preparatory communication or education. One way to encourage sustainability of quality and process improvements is to assemble an accessible, user-friendly tool kit for knowledge and process documentation. Creating a resource repository or tool kit is also an excellent way to follow up an educational or in-service session, as it can help to reinforce attendees' new knowledge as well as the understanding of its value. By practicing creating a simple online tool kit, you can develop valuable technology skills to improve your competence and efficacy. This technology is easy to use, and resources are available to guide you.

SCENARIO

For this assessment, build on the work done in your first three assessments and create an online tool kit or resource repository that will help the audience of your in-service understand the research behind your safety improvement plan pertaining to a specific patient safety issue and put the plan into action.

PREPARATION

Google Sites is recommended for this assessment; the tools are free to use and should offer you a blend of flexibility and simplicity as you create your online tool kit. Please note that this requires a Google account; use your Gmail or GoogleDocs login, or create an account following the directions under the "Create Account" menu.

Refer to the resources on the following list to help you get started with Google Sites:

· Assessment 4: Google Sites reading list.

INSTRUCTIONS

Using Google Sites, assemble an online resource tool kit containing at least 12 annotated resources that you consider critical to the success of your safety improvement initiative. These resources should enable nurses and others to implement and maintain the safety improvement you have developed.

It is recommended that you focus on the 3 or 4 most critical categories or themes with respect to your safety improvement initiative. For example, for an initiative that concerns improving workplace safety for practitioners, you might choose broad themes such as general organizational safety and quality best practices; environmental safety and quality risks; individual strategies to improve personal and team safety; and process best practices for reporting and improving environmental safety issues.

Following the recommended scheme, you would collect 3 resources on average for each of the 4 categories focusing on a specific patient safety issue. Each resource listing should include the following:

· An APA-formatted citation of the resource with a working link.

· A description of the information, skills, or tools provided by the resource.

· A brief explanation of how the resource can help nurses better understand or implement the safety improvement initiative pertaining to a specific patient safety issue.

· A description of how nurses can use this resource and when its use may be appropriate.

Remember that you must make your site "public" so that your faculty can access it. Check out the Google Sites resources for more information.

Here is an example entry:

· Merret, A., Thomas, P., Stephens, A., Moghabghab, R., & Gruneir, M. (2011). A collaborative approach to fall prevention . Canadian Nurse, 107(8), 24–29.

· This article presents the Geriatric Emergency Management-Falls Intervention Team (GEM-FIT) project. It shows how a collaborative nurse lead project can be implemented and used to improve collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork, as well as improve the delivery of health care services. This resource is likely more useful to nurses as a resource for strategies and models for assembling and participating in an interdisciplinary team than for specific fall-prevention strategies. It is suggested that this resource be reviewed prior to creating an interdisciplinary team for a collaborative project in a health care setting.

Additionally, be sure that your plan addresses the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so you understand what is needed for a distinguished score.

· Identify necessary resources to support the implementation and continued sustainability of a safety improvement initiative pertaining to a specific patient safety issue.

· Analyze the usefulness of resources to the role group responsible for implementing quality and safety improvements focusing on a specific patient safety issue.

· Analyze the value of resources to reduce patient safety risk related to a specific patient safety issue.

· Present reasons and relevant situations for use of resource tool kit by its target audience.

· Communicate in a clear, logically structured, and professional manner that applies current APA style and formatting.

Example Assessment: You may use the following example to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like but keep in mind that your tool kit will focus on promoting safety with the quality issue you selected in Assessment 1. Note that you do not have to submit your bibliography in addition to the Google Site; the example bibliography is merely for your reference.

· Assessment 4 Example [PDF] Download Assessment 4 Example [PDF] .

To submit your online tool kit assessment, paste the link to your Google Site in the assessment submission box.

Example Google Site: You may use the example found on the Assessment 4: Google Sites reading list, Resources for Improved Heparin Infusion Safety, to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like for this assessment but keep in mind that your tool kit will focus on promoting safety with the quality issue you selected in Assessment 1

Note: If you experience technical or other challenges in completing this assessment, please contact your faculty member.

Example Google Site: You may use the example found on the Assessment 4: Google Sites reading list, Resources for Improved Heparin Infusion Safety, to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like for this assessment but keep in mind that your tool kit will focus on promoting safety with the quality issue you selected in Assessment 1

Note: If you experience technical or other challenges in completing this assessment, please contact your faculty member.

COMPETENCIES MEASURED

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

· Competency 1: Analyze the elements of a successful quality improvement initiative.

· Analyze the usefulness of resources to the role group responsible for implementing quality and safety improvements focusing on a specific patient safety issue.

· Competency 2: Analyze factors that lead to patient safety risks.

· Analyze the value of resources to reduce patient safety risk related to a specific patient safety issue.

· Competency 3: Identify organizational interventions to promote patient safety.

· Identify necessary resources to support the implementation and continued sustainability of a safety improvement initiative pertaining to a specific patient safety issue.

· Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based strategies to communicate in a manner that supports safe and effective patient care.

· Present reasons and relevant situations for resource tool kit to be used by its target audience.

· Communicate resource tool kit in a clear, logically structured, and professional manner that applies current APA style and formatting.