Identifying A Clinical Question Jadiam Lopez Aspen N/13/2020 ✓ Solved

Identifying A Clinical Question Jadiam Lopez Aspen N/13/2020

With the adult, medical as well as surgical inpatient population does the use of patient education, signage and meeting the needs of the patients prior to medical administration as opposed to no intervention minimize the issue of medical errors.

Significance of the Topic

The issue of medical errors is an essential topic in the health industry. This is because currently health care is not as safe as it should be or as it can be. About 44,000 individuals die every year due to medical errors which could be as a result of medical errors that had the potential of being avoided. Medical errors refer to the failure of a planned action to be completed as expected as well as the use of the wrong plan in order to attain an aim.

Issues that mainly take place during healthcare delivery include fatal drug occurrences, inappropriate transfusions, surgical injuries, wrong-site surgeries, suicides, restraint-based injuries, falls, and mistaken patient identities (Aronson, 2009). Increased error rates with fatal impacts have a high possibility of occurring in intensive care units and operating rooms. Furthermore, far exceeding their cost in people’s lives, preventable medical errors lead to significant financial tolls, estimated to total about $17 billion to $29 billion annually in healthcare costs.

Factors contributing to the epidemic of medical errors in the country include a decentralized healthcare delivery system. When patients see multiple providers in various settings, and none of them has access to all details, things can easily go wrong. According to a study conducted by WHO (2019), each year many patients suffer injuries or die due to inappropriate or substandard healthcare. Many medical practices are risk-laden and present major challenges for patient safety, contributing to harm resulting from unsafe care.

Common Sources of Medical Errors

Medical errors can occur at multiple points in healthcare delivery. Common sources of error include medication administration failures, issues during lab tests, infections occurring post-surgery, and errors in recording patient data. Specific to medication, errors are mainly attributed to ineffective communication, complex product names, unclear medical abbreviations, and patient misunderstanding of product usage instructions (Sorrell, 2017). Moreover, job stress and insufficient knowledge, along with similar labeling and packaging of medications, contribute to these errors.

Impact of Medical Errors

The repercussions of medical errors extend to patients, healthcare providers, and hospitals. Patients and their families may encounter various adverse effects such as skin rashes, itching, or even severe injuries and fatalities. The painful reality of losing a family member due to a preventable error can be devastating. Healthcare providers who administer incorrect medications may endure feelings of shame, guilt, and self-doubt, making it challenging to acknowledge their mistakes (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Furthermore, families or patients may pursue legal action against healthcare facilities for negligence, increasing the emotional toll on providers.

Hospitals not only bear a legal burden but also face financial consequences, including increased legal counsel and settlement expenses. They may experience a loss of productivity from staff involved in errors and incur unplanned hospitalization costs for affected patients. Rectifying errors typically involves substantial time and resources dedicated to handling the aftermath, revising policies, and researching preventative measures. Inconsistent errors can damage a facility's reputation, further complicating recovery (Pham et al., 2011).

Literature Review

The five articles identified as particularly useful for this study include:

• Bari, A., Khan, R., & Rathore, A. (2016). Medical errors; causes, consequences, emotional response and resulting behavioral change. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 32(3).
• Consequences of Medical Errors Observed by Family Physicians. (2003). American Family Physician, 67(5), 915.
• Pietra, L., Calligaris, L., Molendini, L., Quattrin, R., & Brusaferro, S. (2005). Medical errors and clinical risk management: state of the art. ACTA Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, 25(6).
• Rodziewicz, T., Houseman, B., & Hipskind, J. (2020). Medical Error Prevention. StatPearls.
• Swaminath, G., & Raguram, R. (2010). Medical Errors – 1: The Problem. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 52(2).

The article by Bari et al. (2016) stands out due to its effectiveness. The researchers employed a primary data collection method, yielding less biased results. Their article is well-organized, enhancing readability and the effectiveness of communication concerning causes, consequences, emotional responses, and behavior changes stemming from medical errors. Additionally, the article is current, providing relevant information reflective of contemporary occurrences.

Conclusion

In conclusion, medical errors persist as a significant concern within the healthcare sector, affecting patients, providers, and healthcare systems. Addressing these errors necessitates comprehensive strategies, including enhancing patient education, improving communication among healthcare providers, and implementing systematic changes to ensure safer care practices.

References

• Aronson, J. (2009). Medication errors: what they are, how they happen, and how to avoid them. An International Journal of Medicine, 102(8).
• Mayo Clinic. (2014). Medication Errors: What Is Their Impact?
• Pham, J. C., Story, J. L., Hicks, R. W., Shore, A. D., Morlock, L. L., Cheung, D. S., & Pronovost, P. J. (2011). National study on the frequency, types, causes, and consequences of voluntarily reported emergency department medication errors. The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 40(5).
• Sorrell, J.M. (2017). Ethics: Ethical Issues with Medical Errors: Shaping a Culture of Safety in Healthcare. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 22(2).
• World Health Organization. (2019). Patient Safety.