Journal of patient safety
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Journal of patient safety · Jun 2015
Multicenter StudyThe effectiveness of a multicenter quality improvement collaborative in reducing inpatient mortality.
This study examines the evidence that a particular quality improvement collaborative that focused on Quality, Efficiency, Safety and Transparency (QUEST) was able to improve hospital performance. ⋯ The study concludes with a discussion of those methods that were plausible reasons for the successes.
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Journal of patient safety · Jun 2015
Frequency of prescribing errors by medical residents in various training programs.
Medication errors are hazardous and costly. Children are at increased risk for medication errors because of weight-based dosing, limited FDA indications, and human calculation errors. The aim of this study is to determine the frequency and type of resident prescribing errors in a pediatric clinic and further compare error rates of residents in different training programs. ⋯ Numerous types of medication errors occur in a pediatric clinic. Prescribing errors take place among all medical trainees; however, medication error rates in the pediatric population may vary among resident specialty. Identifying the cause of prescribing errors will allow institutions to create educational programs tailored for safe medication use in children as well as systemwide changes for error reduction.
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Journal of patient safety · Mar 2015
Observational StudyAttributable length of stay and mortality of major bleeding as a complication of therapeutic anticoagulation in the intensive care unit.
The aim of this study was to determine the attributable length of stay and mortality due to bleeding as a complication of therapeutic anticoagulation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. ⋯ Major bleeding while receiving anticoagulation is associated with a substantial increase in ICU and hospital length of stay.
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Journal of patient safety · Mar 2015
TRIAD VI: how well do emergency physicians understand Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms?
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) documents are active medical orders to be followed with intention to bridge treatment across health care systems. We hypothesized that these forms can be confusing and jeopardize patient safety. ⋯ Significant confusion exists among members of the Pennsylvania chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians regarding the use of POLST in critically ill patients. This confusion poses risk to patient safety. Additional training and/or safeguards are needed to allow patient choice as well as protect their safety.
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Journal of patient safety · Mar 2015
TRIAD VII: do prehospital providers understand Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment documents?
Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) documents are medical orders intended to honor patient choice in the hospital and prehospital settings. We hypothesized that prehospital personnel will find these forms confusing. ⋯ In the Pennsylvania prehospital setting, POLST documents can be confusing, presenting a risk to patient safety. Additional research, standardized education, training, and/or safeguards are required to facilitate patient choice and protect safety.