Effective Measures to Reduce Medical Errors

This post is all about effective measures that should be followed by each healthcare institution in order to reduce medical errors and acts of medical negligence.

Medical errors have become a dilemma. A huge number of people claim to be victim of medical negligence and demand compensation. Filing a negligence claim and winning compensation can be a time taking and expensive target. It seems that proposed difficulties are to discourage people from fighting for their rights. At the same time, it seems a trial to make healthcare professionals feel that they are free to play with people’s health. If it is not so, then some special measures must be adopted to cut down this increased number of medical negligence claims. Here you will get information on what measures can be effective in reducing medical errors.

Redesigned Reporting System:

Usually hospitals just keep on collecting facts about medical errors and clinical negligence but they should focus on determining the types and causes of these medical mistakes that are happening. These investigations could be useful in identifying how a particular type of error can be controlled. Some medical errors occur beyond the hospital management like pharmacy errors that are usually not addressed. It is therefore needed to properly address and control all medical related mistakes.

Make Patients a Part of Reporting System

Another idea is to involve patients in collecting facts about medical errors. For instance, hospitals can conduct patient satisfactory surveys and note down their complaints regarding hospital administration and attitude of hospital staff. Patients can better help in finding what area of hospital services need to be corrected. Another idea is to let patients view their medical records or healthcare plans after each visit of doctor so that they may have maximum consent about what has been recorded. It means they would have clear idea of standard of care they would have been received.

When patients will be able to view their medical records, they will have evidences of what care was provided to them while they were under treatment. Thus no negligent healthcare professional would be able to escape from his responsibility. All-in-all, patient feedback in medical record keeping and reporting is vital.

Patient Education Should be Valued

Usually physicians have short time to spend with patients but still they are not supposed to withhold on patient consent. Doctor’s co-staff should be efficient in educating patients about their present health conditions as well as instructions for next treatment steps. Doctors can create a video comprising of special instructions for special patients suffering from same disease, say breast cancer, in which they would be taught about dealing with specific health conditions and much more. Sample questions regarding that particular disease should also be answered in that video. Whatever steps may be taken by a doctor/physician, his patients must have deep knowledge of their condition and treatment.

Active Measures to Control Medical Errors:

There must be strict rules for charging the negligent medical staff. Hospitals should welcome people and even hospital staff to bring information about some medical negligence. It should be responsibility of each individual to speak up if they happen to see something doubtful. People should be encouraged to demand medical negligence compensation. if they are sure to receive sub-standard healthcare services.