Safety Improvement Plan
- Maintain a relevant medication list
- Use health informatics for managing medication orders
- Create electronic prescriptions
- Report all medication errors cases
- Consider conditions affecting the medication
- Understand potential interactions between drugs
- Provide patient education
- Review the latest recommendations
- Improve personal skills and competencies
- Improve communication and learning among providers
Annotated Bibliography
Health Informatics
Melton, B. L. (2017). Systematic review of medical informatics–supported medication decision making. Biomedical Informatics Insights, 9. Web.
The given resource offers information about the applications and implications of existing medical informatics-based decision support systems. The author states that their use in medication prescribing can help to reduce the number of errors and contribute to better outcomes. For this reason, the resource leads to a better understanding of the importance of technology in resolving this problem. The review shows that numerous other researchers view informatics-based decision support systems have a positive influence on the effectiveness of all operations performed within a medical unit. At the same time, it is possible to create the basis for new achievements by integrating appropriate technologies. It means that nurses can use this resource to understand the main ideas of safety improvement and how health informatics can be used to attain the desired outcomes and ensure a resolution of the existing issues with medication errors. The resource can be employed during the activities outlined by the safety improvement plan to acquire additional knowledge about the use of technologies and their effects on the work of units.
Svensk, J., & McIntyre, S. E. (2021). Using QR code technology to reduce self-administered medication errors. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 34(4), 587–591. Web.
The provided resource offers ways to reduce self-administered medication errors by using new technologies. The authors focus on discussing the implementation of the QR code to provide additional information about drugs, their use, and their adverse effects. This information is provided to patients and can also be used by health workers to avoid prescription errors or misunderstandings. The article views this method as an effective tool to resolve numerous safety concerns peculiar to the healthcare sector. Thus, the study concludes that QR code technology can be viewed as an advantageous method to improve current medication management practices and reduce the number of mistakes. By using this innovative approach, it is possible to align the better correlation between health workers and patients and avoid adverse effects or poor outcomes. The article can help nurses to realize how the QR technology can be used regarding health informatics and what positive impacts can be associated with it. The resource can be employed reviewing the existing approaches to better medication management regarding health informatics and technology.
Truitt, E., Thompson, R., Blazey-Martin, D., Nisai, D., & Salem, D. (2016). Effect of the implementation of barcode technology and an electronic medication administration record on adverse drug events. Hospital Pharmacy, 51(6), 474–483. Web.
The study focuses on using health informatics to improve medication management and administration in various units. It revolves around reducing adverse drug events by using barcode medication administration (BCMA) and electronic medication administration records (eMAR) as the primary tools for attaining the goal. In such a way, the article offers several important tools that nurses can use to follow the improvement plan and minimize mistakes or undesired outcomes caused by this factor. The given resource outlines how BCMA and eMAR can be implemented in a specific setting to ensure higher levels of patient safety. The research shows that by using these tools, health workers decreased the overall rate of mistakes and transcription errors. Moreover, the positive effects included the decrease in adverse effects caused by administration errors. It means that using these tools, it is possible to create a better system for administering drugs and their prescriptions. The given resource can be used to find information about how health informatics can be employed to achieve current goals and follow the safety improvement plan focusing on using technologies.
Workplace Safety
Boonen, M., Rankin, J., Vosman, F., & Niemeijer, A. (2020). Nurses’ knowledge and deliberations crucial to Barcoded Medication Administration technology in a Dutch hospital: Discovering nurses’ agency inside ruling. Health, 24(3), 279–298. Web.
The article offers information about how the Barcoded Medication Administration technology can be integrated into the existing working environment and lead to better outcomes and workplace safety. The authors state that this method enhances the quality of drugs delivery and reduces the risk of human error, which is vital for achieving the goals of the safety improvement plan. It also explains the peculiarities of the technology’s use by nurses in a particular setting. The researches emphasize that administration technology significantly relies on nurses’ knowledge, meaning that it is vital to improve their understanding of how to use various technologies, leading to better drug prescriptions and intake. It will lead to a critical improvement of outcomes and create the basis for a more effective work of various units. Under these conditions, the resource can be used by health workers to understand the correlation between their knowledge, workplace safety, and technologies and the effects these factors have on the discussed problem. It can be studied when analyzing the existing improvement plan to create the list of aspects that should be given attention.
Degnan, D. D., Hertig, J. B., Peters, M. J., & Stevenson, J. G. (2018). Board of pharmacy practices related to medication errors and their potential impact on patient safety. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 31(3), 312–321. Web.
The resource offers data on medication errors made by pharmacists and the major causes for their emergence. One of the central factors for ineffective or wrong prescription of drugs implies the problematic workplace setting influencing a health worker and preconditioning the poor evaluation of the existing environment and demands. Under these conditions, it is vital to focus on eliminating these factors to create the basis for improvement. The article outlines the existing methods to ensure high patient safety and issues linked to it. The hypothetical error scenarios often include similar factors, such as stress, decreased attention levels, or lack of knowledge, which are closely associated with the correct organization of the environment and provision of nurses with necessary resources. It means that by focusing on these elements, a specialist can realize the existing vulnerabilities and focus on their improvement. The resource can be used as a part of a safety enhancement plan as it helps to understand how to establish the environment promoting positive change and reduction in medication management errors.
Rogers, E., Griffin, E., Carnie, W., Melucci, J., & Weber, R. J. (2017). A Just culture approach to managing medication errors. Hospital Pharmacy, 52(4), 308–315.
The given paper offers information about how the change in culture and basic approaches to organizing the workplace environment can reduce medication errors. The authors assume that numerous health care workers have a fear of reporting recent mistakes because of the possible punishment provided to them. It undermines safety and leads to the deterioration in the work of the whole unit. Alteration of this pattern might lead to a better result and help to establish new and improved practices. The resource might help nurses to understand that promotion of a “Just Culture” can lead to a better classification of behaviors resulting in errors and their reconsideration, which is vital for achieving the current goals. At the same time, the article can be used to review the existing approaches to organizing reporting practices and workplace safety, which is vital for observing the medication management improvement plan. It is critical to ensure that health workers realize the correlation between the existing setting and medication errors and focus on enhancing outcomes.
Individual Strategies
Kerari, A., & Innab, A. (2021). The influence of nurses’ characteristics on medication administration errors: An integrative review. SAGE Open Nursing. Web.
The resource provides information about medication administration errors (MAEs) and their relationship with nurses’ characteristics. The authors state that MAEs are a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in acute care settings, meaning that their effective management is a key to improved outcomes. Under these conditions, it becomes vital to determine factors leading to the emergence of these mistakes and eliminate them. By using this resource, nurses can understand the correlation between their level of education, experience, attendance of special courses, and the occurrence of MAEs. The findings of the research conducted by the authors show that more prepared and trained health workers demonstrate better results and have lower mistakes rates. For this reason, it is vital to focus on developing individual strategies for addressing the issue as the key to the effective resolution of the existing problem. The article can be used by nurses to realize the critical importance of individual skills and strategies and select appropriate methods of self-improvement to be prepared for observing the major aspects of the safety improvement initiative.
Nguyen, M.-N. R., Mosel, C., & Grzeskowiak, L. E. (2018). Interventions to reduce medication errors in neonatal care: a systematic review. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 123–155. Web.
The article offers information about the improvement of the medication use process by using various strategies. The authors state that no single method can help to resolve the problem as it implies multiple factors. For this reason, numerous interventions should be used to address the issue. These include the focus on the personal skills and experiences of nurses responsible for managing drugs’ prescriptions and their monitoring. The article helps nurses to realize the importance of their contribution to improve safety and reduce mistakes rate. The introduction of innovative methods and technologies becomes more effective if supported by the appropriate change in health workers’ experiences and knowledge. For this reason, it becomes vital to use a combined approach, implying both external and internal influences. The resource leads to a better understanding of the safety improvement plan by outlining the multi-layered nature of the issue and the necessity of using all available tools, including personal knowledge and skills, to attain existing goals. For this reason, it can be recommended for nurses who follow the plans for addressing medication management.
Sharma, S., Tabassum, F., Khurana, S., & Kapoor, K. (2016). Frontline worker perceptions of medication safety in India. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 248–260. Web.
The study discusses the idea of medication safety, medication errors (MEs), and the ways the progress can be attained in this field. The authors state that poor training and the lack of knowledge among individuals were often associated with undesired outcomes and the inability to provide patients with the demanded interventions. Under these conditions, accreditation becomes a driver for promoting patient safety. The offered resource can provide nurses with knowledge on the importance of error identification and disclosure. The improvement can be attained by workforce development, the introduction of standard protocols, and the alteration of the organizational culture. It also demands individual effort and strategies to acquire relevant knowledge and contribute to the stable work of the unit. Under these conditions, the resource can be recommended as a part of the overall safety improvement plan. It highlights the necessity to be accredited, which implies the constant learning and acquisition of new strategies on how to manage medication safely and effectively. The article can be analyzed at any stage of the existing plan.
Reporting
Cohen, M. R., & Smetzer, J. L. (2017). ISMP medication error report analysis. Hospital Pharmacy, 52(6), 390–393. Web.
The paper offers a list most common medication errors that occurred in health care facilities. The authors emphasize the fact that they can repeat, meaning that analysis of such reports is vital for acquiring the correct understanding of factors leading to such mistakes, their evaluation, and elimination. For this reason, reporting plays a critical role in managing medication prescriptions as it creates the basis for the improvement. The study helps nurses to understand the necessity of effective reporting practices in modern healthcare settings and how previous cases can be analyzed to generate a better vision of the current problems, how they can be addressed, and what measures might help to create a safer environment. For this reason, the article can be viewed as a part of a safety improvement plan as it establishes the theoretical background explaining how the most common issues should be addressed to avoid their repetition in different settings. The resource can be analyzed as a part of the preparation for integrating the positive change within a unit.
Oh, A. L., Tan, A. G. H. K., & Chieng, I. Y. Y. (2021). Detection of medication errors through medication history assessment during admission at general medical wards. Journal of Pharmacy Practice. Web.
The paper introduces the idea that medication history assessment during hospital admissions is critical for the reconciliation process as it guarantees the continuity of care and helps to avoid new mistakes. For this reason, effective reporting and inclusion of all cases of maltreatment in medication history acquire the top priority as methods helping other health workers to work more effectively in different settings. The article contributes to a better understanding of the critical importance of reporting in establishing the continuity of care. While some nurses might prefer to avoid mentioning the cases of wrong medication use or their failures to provide appropriate drugs, it remains a crucial part of the process necessary for the effective delivery of care and patients’ recovery. For this reason, it is vital to focus on introducing effective reporting practices as the part of the safety improvement plan. The nurses can read the resource to recognize the need for correct procedures during medication, and the role medication history with all cases play in the modern healthcare sector.
Tang, H., Solti, I., Kirkendall, E., Zhai, H., Lingren, T., Meller, J., & Ni, Y. (2017). Leveraging food and drug administration adverse event reports for the automated monitoring of electronic health records in a pediatric hospital. Biomedical Informatics Insights, 9. Web.
The article provides critical information about the importance of effective reporting systems to manage medication errors. The use of electronic health records (EHR) for monitoring the adverse drug reaction (ADR) helps to attain better results. However, it means that nurses become responsible for better monitoring as the part of the system focused on promoting better results across different units. In such a way, reporting is a critical tool helping health workers to perform their tasks better. The resource cultivates a comprehensive understanding of how to improve reporting practices by using health informatics and available electronic instruments in different settings. It is an important element of the existing safety improvement plan as it will lead to a better understanding of ADRs. It will also reduce the number of adverse effects and help nurses to avoid critical mistakes when distributing drugs. For this reason, the article can be recommended as a part of incentives aimed at improving patients’ safety and minimizing mistakes rates in various settings.
Summary
The outlined resources can help to support the implementation of a safety improvement initiative. First of all, they offer information linked to all areas mentioned in the plan, such as health informatics, individual strategies, reporting, and workplace safety. It means that by analyzing these articles, a nurse can acquire an improved vision of how to act to observe the central points of the offered initiative and avoid the deterioration of outcomes. From this perspective, the suggested resources contribute to the generation of additional knowledge among health specialists, which is vital for reducing safety risks related to medication administration. Reviewing these articles, a nurse can create the theoretical basis for following the incentive and minimizing the number of mistakes made because of different factors. For this reason, it can be recommended for specialists who want to acquire a clear image of how to address the problem and attain better outcomes in various settings.