Hospital pharmacies are vital in healthcare, often mixing drugs to meet specific needs. This can be tough, especially when they use plastic containers meant for short-term use. The problem is, these containers might not be safe for long-term storage. They could release harmful chemicals into the drugs. This is a big deal because it can hurt patients. Why does this h...
Triage is the first step in emergency care. It's when medical staff decide who needs immediate attention. But mistakes happen. And when they do, patients might wait too long for help. This can make them sicker or even cause harm. The problem is, we usually only find out about these mistakes after the fact. That's because the checks we have in place are mostly done af...
Surgeons need to be excellent communicators. Think about it: how surgeons pass on information to one another during patient care. This process is key. It\'\'s called a surgical handover. Without rules or guidelines for training on this, how can surgeons ensure patient safety? This review focused on finding the best ways to teach and assess this skill. Let\'\...
When a person faces serious injuries, they rely on a team of medical professionals to keep them safe. This team needs to work well together to move the patient from one stage of care to another. Researchers wanted to understand how well this team works and if their actions lead to better patient safety. They decided to study the behavior of doctors and nurses who are...
Even with robust efforts to improve healthcare quality, learning from patient safety incidents stays tough. A recent study took a look at the social, political, and organizational factors that make learning from these incidents so tricky. It's not just about fixing mistakes; it's about understanding the dynamics within healthcare organizations that can either hinder ...
You might not realize it, but not all anesthesia-related safety events are reported. These events can provide valuable insights for improving patient safety. After closely examining our current systems and comparing them to what's out there, we found that our hospital didn't have a reliable way to track these incidents specifically related to anesthesia. This meant t...
Medical errors, or MEs, are a big deal around the world. They happen when healthcare goes wrong and can be really dangerous for patients. In China, a recent survey checked out what causes these errors among doctors and nurses. First, let's get into the nitty-gritty. This survey was a special kind called cross-sectional. That means it looked at a lot of people at onc...
Imagine tiny warriors, so small they can sneak into cancer cells undetected. These mini boosters are like secret agents, evading the body's usual defenses. Scientists are working hard to make these tools even better and safer for patients. It's a tough fight, but each small win matters. The journey of these tiny tools started with a simple question: How can we targe...
You might think that in the high-pressure world of intensive care, doctors and nurses are just focused on their own jobs. But the World Health Organization (WHO) wants to change that. They're pushing for a team-based approach to keep patients safe. This means nurses and surgeons working together, not just side by side. One way they're doing this is through a program...
Healthcare simulations are no longer just about practicing CPR. They've become immersive experiences that teach crucial skills like teamwork, leadership, and patient safety. Unlike old-school methods, these simulations are custom-made to fit each hospital's needs. A small-town hospital has different needs than a big-city specialty clinic, so each simulation center is...