Patient Safety and Factors Affecting Safety

Patient Safety

• Safety and security are basic human needs
• Safe community and environment are essential for survival and well-being
• Safety is an individual, community, and national concern
• Patient Safety: Freedom from Unintended Health Care Errors / Injuries due to Medical Management
• Patient Safety Practices: A type of process or structure whose application reduces the probability of adverse events resulting from exposure to the health care system across a range of diseases and procedures

Factors Affecting Safety

• 1. Age: Risk for injury varies with chronological age and developmental stage.
• 2. Lifestyle
  • Lifestyle practices can increase a person's risk for injury and potential for disease.
  • Individuals who operate machinery: experience stress, anxiety, and fatigue; use alcohol and drugs (prescription and nonprescription)
  • Injury, Risk-taking behaviors such as driving vehicles at high speeds, and smoking are factors associated with accidents
• 3. Sensory and Perceptual Alterations
  • Sensory functions are essential for accurate perception of environmental safety (cognitive awareness)
• 4. Mobility: Mobility impairments may be a result of Poor balance or coordination, Muscle weakness, or Paralysis. Clients who have impaired mobility are at increased risk for injury, especially Falls, Decubitus ulcer or Emotional complications such as depression
• 4. Emotional State: such as depression and anger affect a client's perception of environmental hazards and degree of risk-taking behavior

Types of Accidents

• 1. Client behavior accidents: In the health care setting, accidents are categorized as: cuts and bruises, poisonings, burns, and self-inflicted.
• 2. Therapeutic procedure accidents: Occur during the delivery of medical or nursing interventions, such as Medication errors, Client falls during transfers, Contamination of sterile instruments or wounds.
• 3. Equipment accidents: Result from the malfunction or improper use of medical equipment; for example, electrocution and fire.