The Top 5 Healthcare Safety Issues and Best Ways To Overcome Them
Healthcare facilities are environments where people need to feel safe and secure. While the onus of this experience ultimately falls on healthcare providers, facility management plays an important role in creating safeguards. Increasingly, technology is critical in ensuring safety and security across a wide range of unique considerations.
Here are five of the top healthcare safety issues and the ways technology, system design, and staff participation can address them.
1. Patient identification and security
Patient safety starts with accurate identification and controlled access. The challenge lies in preventing mix-ups and unauthorized entry.
Employing technology like biometric recognition (fingerprints and iris scans) and radio-frequency identification (RFID) wristbands enhances security and makes identity verification easier. Access control systems with personalized codes or cards add another layer of protection, bolstering patient confidence and preventing unauthorized access into sensitive areas. A combination of these tools, along with vigilant staff involvement, guarantees a safer healthcare environment where patient well-being remains paramount.
2. Infection control and preventing disease spread
Safeguarding against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and outbreaks demands a sterile environment. Advanced technology can strengthen infection control efforts through various means. Automated hand hygiene monitoring enforces staff compliance, curtailing potential transmission. Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection robots help to eradicate pathogens from surfaces. Real-time locating systems (RTLS) not only monitor staff movement but also locate equipment, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
By integrating these solutions, healthcare facilities can bolster their defenses against pathogens. Containing, sanitizing, and mitigating spread are all means of ensuring patient safety through rigorous infection prevention measures.
3. Emergency response and communication
Responding swiftly to emergencies and maintaining effective communication are also essential. The potential risks — like delayed responses and communication breakdowns — underscore the need for robust systems. Technology provides support with RTLS and nurse call systems for quick assistance, while comprehensive communication platforms offer rapid alerts. In dire situations, mass notification systems provide a blanket of safety.
Facilities blending technology and alerting systems can prioritize emergency readiness and clear communication to prevent chaos and confusion during critical moments.
4. Medication management and safety
Medication management and dispensing are crucial aspects of facility safety. The challenge lies in ensuring accurate dosing and administration to avoid harmful consequences. Possible risks include medication mistakes and adverse reactions — both of which can have severe consequences.
Best practices and processes should be implemented here, along with modern technology. Solutions like barcode scanning for medication verification, automated dispensing cabinets, and Medication Administration Record (MAR) systems are highly successful in mitigating medication-related risks. These tools enhance precision and reduce errors to promote patient well-being and safety.
5. Fall prevention and patient safety
Preventing patient falls and promoting the safety of vulnerable individuals are imperative, especially in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and other senior care settings. Regardless of the patient population, prevention is vital. Injuries, legal liability, and the erosion of patient trust from a fall are all devastating to an organization without fall prevention measures. For example, in SNFs, integrating bed exit alarms and pressure-sensitive mats will alert staff when patients attempt to leave beds unattended.
Wander management is another concern. The implementation of patient-locating systems allows for continuous monitoring while strategically restricting patient movement. These technological interventions work to substantially curtail fall-related hazards and foster a safer environment for patients.
Prioritize patient safety
Patient safety must be the top priority for all healthcare employees. Safeguards are only as good as the culture that surrounds them. A strong culture of vigilance — supported by technology designed to minimize risk — equates to a healthcare environment well equipped to meet the needs of the patients depending on it.
To learn more about how technology can help keep healthcare patients and staff safe, visit trlsystems.com/solutions-healthcare.