It’s safe to say you or one of your loved ones have likely been a medical patient at a hospital at some point in the past. It is also safe to say that you expected to receive the best possible care while at the facility, and rightfully so. When you go to a medical provider for a procedure or just for preventative care, you literally place your life in their hands.
It’s scary to think that, if your doctors or nurses make a mistake or fail to do their jobs, you could face serious injuries or even lose your life. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that medical malpractice or errors during treatment are some of the leading causes of injury and death across the country. Patient safety should be the top priority at every medical facility. Here are a few things hospitals in Texas and New Mexico can do to increase safety and produce better patient outcomes.
Hand hygiene
Nearly 80% of all infections spread by hands. If your medical providers do not maintain proper hand hygiene while they are treating you, they could subject you to a healthcare-associated infection, or HAI. All hospital staff, both clinical and nonclinical, need to thoroughly clean their hands with soap and water or sanitizer when they enter and exit a patient’s room. Your medical providers should also wash their hands throughout the day to ensure their hands stay free of germs and other contaminants.
Keep sitters with high-risk patients
A patient sitter can help patients feel supported and more comfortable while they are in the hospital. Some patients, such as behavioral health or fall risk patients, are at higher risk of injury than others. If you are one of these high-risk patients, having a trained patient sitter who can give you dedicated care and prevent falls will help ensure your safety. Patient sitters can also reduce the workload of nurses and allow nurses to focus on other tasks.
Optimize the transfer and discharge processes
If you are a patient in need of a transfer or discharge from a hospital, proper collaboration between patient transport and environmental services can help to ensure your well-being. For example, when a patient is discharging, transporters can alert environmental services that the room is ready for cleaning. Timely and efficient communication will help rooms get properly cleaned, thus minimizing the risk of viruses or bacteria spreading in the hospital.
The aftermath of medical malpractice
Every single day, droves of people across the United States go to hospitals and other medical facilities in need of treatment. Sadly, medical malpractice and negligence are very real problems in this country and are responsible for thousands of injuries and deaths. If you have been a victim or have lost a loved one due to medical malpractice, you do not have to bear this burden on your own. Victims or surviving family members may be able to file a medical malpractice claim to seek rightful compensation.
