Disclosing medical errors to patients: A challenge for health care professionals and institutions

2009 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Levinson
Author(s):  
Jayita Poduval

The impact of medical errors on the delivery of health care is massive, and it significantly reduces health care quality. They could be largely attributed to system failures and not human weakness. Therefore improving health care quality and ensuring quality control in health care would mean making systems function in a better manner. In order to achieve this all sections of society as well as industry must be involved. Reporting of medical error needs to be encouraged and this may be ensured if health care professionals as well as administrators and health consumers come forward without fear of being blamed. To get to the root of the problem- literally and metaphorically- a root cause analysis and audit must be carried out whenever feasible. Persons outside the medical care establishment also need to work with medical service providers to set standards of performance, competence and excellence.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 24
Author(s):  
Gerald Monk ◽  
Stacey Sinclair ◽  
Michael Nelson

Despite the overwhelming evidence that suggests that patients, families and health care systems benefit from offering appropriate disclosures and apologies to patients and families following the aftermath of medical errors, few health care organizations in the U.S. invest in providing systemic training in disclosure and apology. Using a narrative analysis this paper explores the cultural barriers in the United States healthcare environment that impede health care providers from engaging in restorative conversations with patients and families when things go wrong. The paper identifies a handful of programs and models that provide disclosure and apology training and argues for the unique contributions of narrative mediation to assist health care professionals to disclose adverse events to patients and families to restore trust.


Author(s):  
Theresa A. Gaffney

Two decades after the Institute of Medicine Report, To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System illuminated the high number of preventable deaths and adverse events associated with health care, medical errors remain a top global concern. To date, resources have been focused on preventing medical errors; however, the importance of error recovery must not be overlooked. Medical errors cannot be fully eliminated from our health care system, yet many errors can be recovered thus preventing patient harm. This chapter will (1) define and describe the error recovery process, (2) discuss the role of health care providers in error recovery, (3) explore strategies that enhance and prohibit error recovery, and (4) analyze characteristics that influence error recovery. Given the importance of patient safety within the health care industry, health care professionals and organizations must focus on both error prevention and error recovery as a key strategy in keeping patients safe.


2017 ◽  
pp. 975-994
Author(s):  
Jayita Poduval

The impact of medical errors on the delivery of health care is massive, and it significantly reduces health care quality. They could be largely attributed to system failures and not human weakness. Therefore improving health care quality and ensuring quality control in health care would mean making systems function in a better manner. In order to achieve this all sections of society as well as industry must be involved. Reporting of medical error needs to be encouraged and this may be ensured if health care professionals as well as administrators and health consumers come forward without fear of being blamed. To get to the root of the problem- literally and metaphorically- a root cause analysis and audit must be carried out whenever feasible. Persons outside the medical care establishment also need to work with medical service providers to set standards of performance, competence and excellence.


2019 ◽  
pp. 002073141989303
Author(s):  
Daniel Terry ◽  
Jeong-ah Kim ◽  
Julia Gilbert ◽  
Sunny Jang ◽  
Hoang Nguyen

The issue of medical errors, or adverse events caused within a health care context or by a health care provider, is largely under-researched. While the experience and perspective of health care professionals regarding medical errors have been explored, little attention is paid to the health care consumers regarding their perceptions and experiences. Therefore, there is a need to better understand the public’s views on medical errors to enhance patient safety and quality care. The current study sought to examine Australian public perceptions and experiences, especially concerning what errors had occurred, the perceived sources of the errors, and if the errors had been reported. This paper reports the qualitative findings of an online survey for Australian residents who have accessed or received medical services at any time in Australia. Responses from 304 surveys were analyzed and discussed, including demographic information and key themes about medical errors, which were categorized into engagement and patients’ voices being heard, the quality of care being provided, and the system’s accountability. Based on the findings, the study highlights the importance of effective health professional–patient communication, enhanced capacity to deliver high quality care, and improved mechanism for error reporting and resolution where patients feel safe and confident about positive changes being made.


Author(s):  
Lynda Katz Wilner ◽  
Marjorie Feinstein-Whittaker

Hospital reimbursements are linked to patient satisfaction surveys, which are directly related to interpersonal communication between provider and patient. In today’s health care environment, interactions are challenged by diversity — Limited English proficient (LEP) patients, medical interpreters, International Medical Graduate (IMG) physicians, nurses, and support staff. Accent modification training for health care professionals can improve patient satisfaction and reduce adverse events. Surveys were conducted with medical interpreters and trainers of medical interpreting programs to determine the existence and support for communication skills training, particularly accent modification, for interpreters and non-native English speaking medical professionals. Results of preliminary surveys suggest the need for these comprehensive services. 60.8% believed a heavy accent, poor diction, or a different dialect contributed to medical errors or miscommunication by a moderate to significant degree. Communication programs should also include cultural competency training to optimize patient care outcomes. Examples of strategies for training are included.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-62
Author(s):  
Joseph Donaher ◽  
Christina Deery ◽  
Sarah Vogel

Healthcare professionals require a thorough understanding of stuttering since they frequently play an important role in the identification and differential diagnosis of stuttering for preschool children. This paper introduces The Preschool Stuttering Screen for Healthcare Professionals (PSSHP) which highlights risk factors identified in the literature as being associated with persistent stuttering. By integrating the results of the checklist with a child’s developmental profile, healthcare professionals can make better-informed, evidence-based decisions for their patients.


2008 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinciya Pandian ◽  
Thai Tran Nguyen ◽  
Marek Mirski ◽  
Nasir Islam Bhatti

Abstract The techniques of performing a tracheostomy has transformed over time. Percutaneous tracheostomy is gaining popularity over open tracheostomy given its advantages and as a result the number of bedside tracheostomies has increased necessitating the need for a Percutaneous Tracheostomy Program. The Percutaneous Tracheostomy Program at the Johns Hopkins Hospital is a comprehensive service that provides care to patients before, during, and after a tracheostomy with a multidisciplinary approach aimed at decreasing complications. Education is provided to patients, families, and health-care professionals who are involved in the management of a tracheostomy. Ongoing prospective data collection serves as a tool for Quality Assurance.


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