As mentioned in “How to Plan for a Safe Hospital – Part 1,” employing a safety officer, designating a safety committee, and performing internal audits are great steps to take to increase hospital safety. These steps make sure that the proper measures are in place to incorporate and enforce safety policies. In addition, make sure the safety policies themselves are effective in saving lives, preventing injury, and protecting hospital resources by following three more tips to help you plan for a safe hospital.
Hire adequate personnel
Personnel considerations go further than degree and experience. While it is imperative that a hospital is staffed with trained individuals, quantity is just as important as quality. Each department in a hospital should employ a large enough team to ensure patients are treated with respect and have their health concerns thoroughly and accurately addressed. Beware of being understaffed, which can cause nightmares for management, personnel, and other staff.
Teach infection risk assessment, prevention, and response
The CDC has set guidelines for minimizing the risk of hospital-acquired infections for standard patients and for preventing the transmission of infections when patients have them upon arrival. It is imperative that hospital staff is trained on these precautions, and that these safety measures are enforced by the safety officer or supervisor.
Encourage teamwork and cohesion
A comprehensive health plan is the best course of action for a patient. This requires effective communication between nurses, doctors, pharmacists, therapists, administrators, patients, and loved ones. All documentation, including risk assessments, discharge papers, and follow up notes, should be standardized for clear understanding, implementation, and accountability purposes.
Developing an effective safety plan is an intricate process, but it is well worth the effort. There is nothing more valuable than human life and nothing more sacred than a responsibility to help others. For help developing a hospital safety plan to protect those on your team and in your care, contact us today.
