The medical community has long recognized the importance of implementing safe and effective policies and procedures to provide patients with the best care. In recent years, the medical community has turned to the aviation industry for inspiration, adopting many policies and procedures to improve patient safety and outcomes. This collaboration has resulted from the shared focus on risk management and error prevention and the recognition of the potential benefits of using proven strategies from other industries. The aviation industry strongly focuses on safety, with strict rules and regulations in place to prevent accidents and ensure the smooth operation of flights. By adopting similar policies and procedures, the medical community has improved patient care and reduced the risk of medical errors and complications. This includes implementing processes such as checklists, crew resource management, safety culture, and technological advancement to ensure that medical professionals are always prepared and able to provide the best possible care to their patients.
The medical community has adopted the use of checklists from the aviation industry to improve patient safety and reduce the incidence of medical errors. These checklists typically include a list of key steps that need to be performed during a procedure and any potential risks or complications that may arise. By using checklists, healthcare providers can ensure that all necessary steps are performed and that potential risks are identified and addressed before they become a problem. In surgeries, for example, checklists are used to ensure that all necessary steps are completed before, during, and after the procedure. This includes verifying the patient’s identity, checking equipment, and confirming the surgical site. According to Papadakis et al. (2019), checklists promote cooperation and communication among team members hence an effective tool in the healthcare sector. In addition, checklists are also used in other medical practices, such as in administering medications and managing patient care. Using checklists has therefore helped reduce the incidence of medical errors and improve patient outcomes.
The medical community has also embraced Crew Resource Management (CRM) as a critical tool to improve patient safety, optimize team performance and reduce errors. CRM is a set of techniques and principles that optimize the use of all available resources, including personnel, equipment, and information, to achieve the best possible outcome in any given situation. In the medical field, CRM has been adopted in various settings, from hospitals and clinics to ambulances and emergency rooms. It was introduced to enhance patient safety through a multidisciplinary learning approach that focuses on improving communication, coordination, and collaboration among healthcare workers and enhance their decision-making and problem-solving skills (Man et al., 2019). One of the key ways in which CRM has been adopted in the medical community is through the use of training programs. These programs are designed to teach healthcare workers the principles of CRM and provide them with the tools and strategies they need to implement them in their daily work effectively. This includes teaching them how to communicate effectively with one another, how to share information and resources, and how to work together as a team to achieve the best possible outcomes for their patients. In addition to training programs, many medical organizations have also implemented CRM-related policies and procedures. These guidelines provide clear direction on how healthcare workers should approach their work and interact with one another, focusing on improving communication, coordination, and collaboration.
The medical community has increasingly adopted a focus on safety culture from the aviation community, which aims to ensure that patient care is performed to minimize the risk of harm. According to Lawati et al. (2018), there are millions of people who suffer injuries and various disabilities annually because of unsafe medical practices. Therefore, this shift has been driven by several factors, including the increasing complexity of medical procedures and treatments, the increasing frequency of medical errors, and the growing awareness of the importance of patient safety. One of the key ways in which the medical community has adopted the focus on safety culture is through the implementation of standardized protocols and procedures. In the aviation industry, standard operating procedures are well-established and widely followed, designed to ensure that all pilots perform consistently and safely. In the medical community, standardized protocols and procedures have been developed for multiple procedures, including surgical procedures, medication administration, and infection control. By following these protocols and procedures, healthcare professionals can reduce the likelihood of errors and improve patient safety. In addition, the medical community has also incorporated the use of incident reporting systems. In the aviation industry, pilots are required to report any incidents or near-misses, allowing airlines to identify potential safety issues and take steps to prevent them. In the medical community, incident reporting systems have also been implemented, allowing healthcare professionals to report emergency incidents such as accidents, allowing hospitals and other healthcare facilities to identify potential safety issues and take steps to prevent them from occurring in the future.
The technological advancements in the aviation industry have greatly influenced the medical community. One significant way in which this has occurred is through the use of advanced imaging technologies. In the aviation industry, advanced imaging technologies such as Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are used to diagnose issues with aircraft and ensure their safety before takeoff. These same technologies have been adopted and adapted by the medical community for use in diagnosing and treating various medical conditions in humans. For example, CT scanners and MRIs allow doctors to view detailed images of the inside of the human body, providing them with crucial information about a patient’s condition. This allows for greater conformity and effective delivery of dosage to illnesses such as tumors, ultimately improving patient outcomes (Beaton et al., 2019). Additionally, the medical community has adopted the aviation industry’s use of advanced data analysis and monitoring systems. These systems allow doctors to track and analyze a patient’s vital signs and other health metrics in real time, allowing for early detection and intervention in potential medical emergencies.
The medical community has improved patient care by adopting similar policies from the aviation industry, such as checklists, crew resource management (CRM), safety culture, and technological improvements. These strategies have helped improve communication and coordination among healthcare workers and enhance their decision-making and problem-solving skills. Checklists are used in surgeries or other medical practices as a key tool to ensure that all necessary steps are performed correctly without any potential risks or complications arising. In addition to using checklists and CRM, the medical community has also adopted a focus on safety culture and technological advancements from the aviation industry to ensure that patient care is performed to minimize the risk of harm.
References
Beaton, L., Bandula, S., Gaze, M. N., & Sharma, R. A. (2019). How rapid advances in imaging are defining the future of precision radiation oncology. British Journal of Cancer, 120(8), 779-790. Web.
Lawati, M. H., Dennis, S., Short, S. D., & Abdulhadi, N. N. (2018). Patient safety and safety culture in primary health care: A systematic review. BMC Family Practice, 19(1), 1-12. Web.
Man, A. P., Lam, C. K., Cheng, B. C., Tang, K., & Tang, P. (2019). Impact of locally adopted simulation-based crew resource management training on patient safety culture: Comparison between operating room personnel and general health care populations pre and post course. American Journal of Medical Quality, 35(1), 79-88. Web.
Papadakis, M., Meiwandi, A., & Grzybowski, A. (2019). The WHO safer surgery checklist time out procedure revisited: Strategies to optimise compliance and safety. International Journal of Surgery, 69, 19-22. Web.