Adverse Events

“There are two sides to every story,” is what my mom use to always tell me.  Not every person thinks of things in the same way.  Just like the saying, “I didn’t mean it like that.”  People’s perspectives are different in every way.  Some people are extra sensitive while others just don’t think twice.  In healthcare we must be overly cautious when dealing with people, especially when an adverse event happens. 

While making my rounds on the floors, I overhear scenarios being describes on a daily basis.  He said this or she did that are relayed to the charge nurse.  It’s not to say that one person is right or wrong, but one mediator must hear both sides to the story and solve the problem to satisfy both parties involved.  We must also take into account the state of mind the patient is in.  If a person is drugged up and in pain, then a small event can turn into World War III.  One of the most complained about situations I hear is, “I didn’t get my medication today.”  We have to look at the reasons why that patient didn’t get their meds.  There is a wide range of possibilities such as the physician stopped the med temporarily, the nurse missed the dose, the med was given already and the patient didn’t know, or many more options.  Regardless of the event, whether it’s small or big must be handled accordingly and to the facility standards.  Something as simple as hand washing is an important way to prevent an adverse event such as transmitting MRSA to patients.  The hospital I work at requires you to foam in when entering a patient’s room and when leaving.  Extra precautions are made for certain cases, but they are strict when it comes to passing on infections.

Some adverse events are none that of the patient’s fault, so there is no question on whether or not the patient’s perspective is at play.  Operating on the wrong leg is that of the surgeon’s error.  But what happens when it comes to patients that fall?  There are a lot of questions that take part in answering why the patient fell.  Did the patient tell the nurse they were feeling dizzy or not able to walk?  Was the patient put on a fall alert?  Was the bed alarm on if the patient kept getting up when they were not supposed too?  There are so many answers to so many questions.  Fully understanding the situation at hand is important to solving the dilemma.  Listening to the patient when an adverse event happens is an important key to undertake.  This is not only important for the present matter, but also to make sure it doesn’t happen again in the future.                   

ORMC revolves around a patient first motto.  Everything that is done has a thought of putting the patient first in a situation.  It’s the kind of care that you, your family member, and friends would hope to receive.  I surely would like to know that the place where I am receiving healthcare puts my needs first.  This is an important concept in conjunction with preserving the facility’s reputation.  Word of mouth is a very strong issue that takes place.  We must always be on guard to prevent a negative outlook.  Who knows who might be watching?

Trickle Down Effect

I was just responding to a post and it made me think about this trickle down effect theory.  We must not only work together with the immediate people around us, but also the people that we can't see.  The example I used was that if a doctor orders meds, the pharmacy fills and sends it to the nurses station, the nurse gives the meds, and then the patient receives the proper care needed.  If there is a break in the line, the patient is the one that suffers the most.  We must all work together to achieve the best quality patient care possible.  We are all apart of a well oiled machine that is intertwined.  We should be able to work together without pointing the finger and take responsibility where it should be.

What does quality mean to me?

Quality is a word with many meanings.  Everyone has different ideas of what quality is.  In my opinion, the levels of quality range from a personal trait, the level of class an item is in, and something that can be described in reference to level of care.

Quality of trait is something that a person possesses in a positive way. We all have resumes that express our qualities.  A quality that I encompass is that I am very thorough. This is a good quality to have especially in healthcare.  Qualities are very important to look at when evaluating a person for possible employment or even on a personal level such as friendship.

The level of class an item is in can be referred to as low, medium, or high quality. It’s like when I go to the store to buy a shirt. There are levels of quality a shirt can be in. A nice soft shirt that is made well has good quality. It can last a long time. A medium quality can be also classified in the food category such as meats. A sirloin steak is in the middle of a filet mignon and steak tips. A low quality can be something you get from the dollar store. It can resemble a name brand item such as Reynolds Wrap foil verses a generic foil brand. We all know that it does the same thing but is not truly the same quality as the real deal. 

Last but not least, describing level of care is the closest relation to healthcare. This is the most important factor in healthcare that has many facets. Quality should never be compromised and always kept to the highest level, even though many people have different ideas of what quality is. My employer has certain steps they take to ensure that the quality of care remains high with little interference. For example, during the hours of nursing staff med pass to patients we are not to speak with the nurses about anything. There are signs posted everywhere to remind us that this will reduce medication errors and ensure a higher quality of care. Orlando Health revolves around a “patient first” model. This model is very unique, because it places the patient at the center of care verses fitting into a system.  

Quality is a very broad word with different meanings to each individual.  What I might consider good quality, you may consider poor. But on a whole, there is a standard that must be met. Placing patient’s safety first in all realms can ensure quality. We must also remember that quantity does not mean quality. But if we provide good quality, quantity will inevitably follow.