When an Austrian man had the wrong leg amputated this month, journalists and researchers took a look at medical mistakes, which were thought to be the third leading cause of death in the U.S. prior to 2020. “Human error” resulted in a man having the wrong leg amputated at a major Austrian hospital. The error occurred when a healthcare employee marked the wrong leg for amputation during … [Read more...]
What is Quality Improvement in Healthcare?
When healthcare leaders set goals for their organizations, such as preventing patient falls, or a medical system aims to lower opioid use after surgery, they use a process called quality improvement. But what is quality improvement in healthcare really about? “Quality improvement is the systematic approach that is guided by data to improve the quality and safety of healthcare delivery,” … [Read more...]
World Patient Safety Day
Recognizing patient safety as a global health priority, all 194 WHO Member States at the 72nd World Health Assembly, in May 2019, endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day (Resolution WHA72.6), to be marked annually on 17 September. The objectives of World Patient Safety Day are to increase public awareness and engagement, enhance global understanding, and spur global solidarity and … [Read more...]