Introduction
The two movies, A Closer Look at A Medication Error and Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm, illustrate families’ suffering when a medical error occurs to a close family member. For several years, I have regarded hospitals as a safe places where people get their health restored. However, this notion has been hampered by the evidence presented by the testimonies of the victims in the videos. Based on the films, medical errors are common in the United States, even where simple procedures are undertaken. The effects of the errors range from minor to severe, whereas in some cases, it can cause death to the patients, thus changing the lives of the family members eternally. For instance, in A Closer Look at A Medication Error, a young child lost her life when her experienced physician made a simple error of drug overdose. Moreover, according to the film showcased by TMIT1 (2012), nearly 100 000 people die yearly across the nation. This number is exceptionally high considering that these deaths can be prevented if appropriate measures are taken. Although it can be simple to illustrate in theory that medical errors can be prevented, an insight from Winning the War on Healthcare Harm has created a realization in me that medical error prevention requires an integrated approach that involves good leadership, safe practices, and technology.
The films A Closer Look at A Medication Error and Winning the War on Healthcare Harm have made me realize that fear is one of the leading causes of medical errors in hospitals. Medics are usually qualified people entrusted with the lives of the patients; as a result, they would never intentionally cause harm to their clients. However, the documentaries have me believe that human error is common everywhere, including in health centers, and it can be triggered easily by fear. Therefore, imperfection should be seen in everyone, including some of the best doctors, as in the case of Emilly Jerry, who had an excellent prognosis (Penn, n.d.). However, in the United States, any medical error caused by a medical staff warranties punishment, including long-term jail terms, as in the case of Eric Cropp, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter after accidentally mixing high concentrations of drugs (TMIT1, 2012). As a result, people who cause the errors can fear disclosing the mistake because of the fear of victimization. However, effective organizational leadership that supports its staff members can help in minimizing errors. Furthermore, good leadership eliminates the fear of getting dismissed from the jobs and even losing a license. In other words, the leadership takes full responsibility when an error occurs instead of individualizing the mistake.
The movie Winning the War on Healthcare Harm has also delved deeply into fatigue as another cause of medical errors experienced in health care facilities. The film has created an insight that nurses and doctors are human beings who experience exhaustion as any other person. For instance, TMIT1 (2012) illustrates that most errors are realized when nurses are about to end their shifts or have been working for long hours. However, based on the insights, I believe this can be solved when effective leadership is employed whereby the management enables nurses to work for short hours during their shift, enhancing the level of concentration. Additionally, the management can provide a smooth shift change, which will minimize any mistakes that are usually experienced when nurses are changing their shifts.
Moreover, the movies regard the hospital as a complex institution that requires effective systems to reduce the number of medical errors to zero. Surprisingly, the institutions quickly victimize the practitioners when a treatment method goes wrong without evaluating their systems. For instance, Winning the War on Healthcare Harm demonstrates that Julie Thao, a nurse, was regarded as incompetent when it was clear that her actions resulted from system failure. According to TMIT1 (2012), multiple system failures can result in medical errors. The system can range from management to the technology deployed in the facilities. However, effective leadership can identify the system’s failure in advance and promote healthy practices in the facility. Identification of the failures can also limit the victimization of the nurses hence instilling confidence in them, thus providing a safe environment for patients.
However, the film Winning the War on Healthcare Harm has advocated for safe practices by physicians. Therefore, the nurses can adopt safe practices such as teamwork and effective communication to enhance patient safety. For instance, the adoption of share rounds, as in Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, allows patients and nurses to pass information (TMIT1, 2012). In addition, effective communication can ensure that all the patient’s health records are communicated to the nurse on shift.
Prevention Of Medication Errors for Nurses
Nurses are crucial in administering health care to patients. However, based on A Closer Look at A Medication Error and Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm, nurses can also pose numerous threats to the patients’ lives when their actions lead to a medical error. However, according to Khan et al. (2018), nurses can avoid medical mistakes if there is an effective evidence-based practice, such as incorporating the patient’s family into the treatment process of a client. This ensures that the patients and their families are fully involved and aware of the actions and steps. Additionally, it facilitates effective patient assessment, as in the case of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota (TMIT1, 2012). As a result, the families can help the nurses to detect the errors; hence it is evidence practice that effectively prevents medical errors.
Also, checklists effectively provide medical errors for nurses, as indicated in the movie Chasing Zero: Winning the War on Healthcare Harm. Nurses usually perform numerous activities that deal with care, and at times they can be overwhelmed with the tasks. Therefore, Khan et al. (2018) illustrate that a checklist can minimize medical errors because it reminds the nurses of the actions and procedures. In other words, it acts as a standardization process in administering healthcare (TMIT1, 2012). As a result, numerous medical schools are currently using the system to teach their students as it offers guidelines to be followed. Therefore, the checklist is an evidence-based practice that nurses should widely adopt.
Conclusion
In conclusion, although the government has put measures to prevent medical errors, it is still experienced across the nation. The mitigations set by the government and the facilities have proved to be ineffective since they victimize the nurses and the doctors, thus instilling fear in them. As a result, medical errors are experienced due to anxiety, fatigue, and technological failure. However, good leadership, good practices, and technology can help obtain zero medical errors when used concurrently. Additionally, evidence-based practices such as involving the patients and their families in the treatment process and using the checklist can prevent medical areas. Therefore, it is possible to achieve zero medical error when adequate measures are taken.
References
Khan, A., Spector, N. D., Baird, J. D., Ashland, M., Starmer, A. J., Rosenbluth, G.,… & Landrigan, C. P. (2018). Patient safety after implementation of a coproduced family-centered communication program: multicenter before and after intervention study. BMJ, 363. Web.
Penn S. (n.d.). A closer look at a medication error [Video]. Web.
TMIT1. (2012). Chasing zero: Winning the war on healthcare harm [Video]. Web.