Reducing Healthcare System Errors: An Analysis of Effective Interventions for Improving Patient Safety

Reducing Healthcare System Errors: An Analysis of Effective Interventions for Improving Patient Safety

 Healthcare system errors (medication mistakes, diagnostic inaccuracies, as well as communication failures) are recognized as a major threat to patient safety and care quality. According to the World Health Organization, about 10% of patients are harmed when receiving care in hospitals, and many of these injuries can be prevented by better healthcare systems (Hodkinson et al., 2020). Medical errors account for 44,000 to 98,000 deaths in the United States every year and thus urgently need effective treatment interventions (Jean-Pierre, 2023). This issue is professional relevant to healthcare providers, administrators, and policymakers, as there is an ethical duty for healthcare providers and administrators to protect patient health, and operational efficiency and reputation of healthcare organizations can be improved by reducing errors. System-based errors are also addressed to reduce the financial strain of malpractice claims and extend patient care. Those who have worked in professional roles, whether clinical or administrative, that have encountered system errors, such as a medication error or implementation of electronic health records, know the value of continuous training, standardized protocols, and improved communication to help make healthcare safer. In this paper we will discuss some recent research on healthcare system errors and will investigate different approaches for error reduction to enhance patient safety and quality of care.

Credibility and Relevance of Sources

The four sources chosen are all from a reputable peer-reviewed academic journal such as Frontiers in Medicine, PLOS ONE, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, and Systematic Reviews, thus guaranteeing the information coming from them. Research findings in peer-reviewed journals, even if eventually discredited, are generally reliable and well-vetted because of the rigorous standards of evaluation maintained by experts before publication of the articles therein. Furthermore, the publications are recent (2020-2022) given the fast-developing nature of the field, specifically healthcare. This currency ensures that the articles in the journal address current healthcare error prevention and patient safety practices. The information is highly relevant for professionals working to reduce system errors in the areas of pharmacist-led interventions, health information technology, and hospital error reduction. Collectively, these findings offer actionable insights that can assist healthcare providers and administrators to develop and implement evidence-based approaches to improving patient safety.

Annotated Bibliography

Ahsani-Estahbanati, E., Gordeev, V. S., & Doshmangir, L. (2022). Interventions to reduce the incidence of medical error and its financial burden in health care systems: A systematic review of systematic reviews. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, 875426. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.875426/full

The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate various interventions intended to reduce medical errors as well as their impacts on the financial performance of healthcare systems. Strategies including error reporting systems, electronic documentation, extensive staff training, and technological advancements are examined by the authors to minimize patient harm and improve the quality of care. The authors consolidate findings across multiple studies and establish that an integrated approach using these strategies is the most effective for reducing errors and associated costs. This article was included for its comprehensive treatment of error reduction interventions and its focus on economic benefits, which is of particular interest to administrators whose budgets are constrained in safety improvements. Based on these results, the study concludes that multifaceted approaches to patient safety and financial efficiency truly benefit healthcare systems. The results of this analysis provide valuable information to healthcare organizations wishing to improve patient outcomes, yet do so in a way that promotes cost effectiveness, thus balancing safety and financial viability.

Devin, J., Cleary, B. J., & Cullinan, S. (2020). The impact of health information technology on prescribing errors in hospitals: A systematic review and behavior change technique analysis. Systematic Reviews, 9, 1-17. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13643-020-01510-7

The purpose of this article is to examine the effects that health information technology (HIT) and electronic prescribing systems in particular have on the rates of prescribing errors in hospitals. A systematic review of studies related to behavior change techniques for HIT use was conducted by the authors. Results show that HIT can decrease prescribing errors by increasing accuracy and decreasing human oversight but can also create new risks when systems are not well designed or staff are not well trained. The dual focus on benefits and limitations of HIT in this article makes it a good choice for administrators and IT professionals that are contemplating the adoption of HIT in healthcare settings. The conclusion of the study is that HIT can be effective, but only with careful implementation, complete user training, and ongoing monitoring. Healthcare professionals are better able to meet the challenges and opportunities of technology-based solutions by understanding HIT’s dual role in both preventing and potentially creating errors. And so that makes it a very useful resource to make sure people are safe in technology-sensitive healthcare environments.

Isaacs, A. N., Ch’ng, K., Delhiwale, N., Taylor, K., Kent, B., & Raymond, A. (2021). Hospital medication errors: a cross-sectional study. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 33(1), mzaa136. https://academic.oup.com/intqhc/article/33/1/mzaa136/5925732

In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence and types of medication errors in hospital environments are described in relation to systemic issues such as workload and communication difficulties. This study was performed across different hospital units, finding common errors, like wrong dosing and wrong timing, that often occurred when the workload was high and the communication between healthcare staff was insufficient. Given the practical examination of stated factors leading to medication errors in this article, it is a chosen article due to its grounded view of operational challenges in hospital settings. Finally, the study concludes that fixing systemic issues in the hospital, for example, improving communication protocols and managing staff workload, is what is needed most to reduce the error rate. Key insights for hospital administrators attempting to counteract medication errors with actionable strategies for reducing errors are offered in this study, and is therefore a necessary resource for healthcare organizations working to improve patient safety via systemic improvements. With an emphasis on tackling real-world challenges, it presents practical solutions that can be applied in different healthcare settings.

Jaam, M., Naseralallah, L. M., Hussain, T. A., & Pawluk, S. A. (2021). Pharmacist-led educational interventions provided to healthcare providers to reduce medication errors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(6), e0253588. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253588

This systematic review and meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of pharmacist-led educational interventions in the reduction of medication errors in the healthcare provider population. Pharmacists conducted staff workshops and on-the-job sessions to train staff in medication safety protocols. Through analysis, it is clear that pharmacist-led education greatly reduces rates of medication error, and it is clear that continuous education and team-based approaches are required to ensure patient safety. This was included because it mainly talks about preventive ways of reducing errors, and so it empowers healthcare staff to reduce errors. The findings suggest the significance of pharmacists in patient safety but importantly support the necessity of interdisciplinary work. The last conclusion reached in this study is that if education is targeted and education interventions are provided, it means that the staff knows and complies with best safety practices. This article is particularly relevant because training is an important part of any effective error reduction strategy.

Summary of Learning

This annotated bibliography allows for insight into the complex issue of healthcare system errors and the variety of strategies to prevent them. This is the main lesson learned; no one strategy is sufficient; rather, methods should be combined to form a multi-faceted approach. The effects of health information technology (HIT), pharmacist-led educational programs, and system-wide improvements in communication and workflow were all great. However, these methods are promising and can be implemented with caution and the necessary consistency, but they do require continued investment in technology and people in healthcare environments. The sources in this bibliography helped to understand error prevention in specific aspects. For example, articles on HIT would describe how technology can make the process easier, but at the same time introduced the concept of new risk if not done well, and studies on pharmacist-led training showed the advantages of interdisciplinary work in improving patient safety. These findings also helped me understand how these errors take place in the area of healthcare, as well as the different approaches organizations can take to combat these errors. The research, taken together, suggests that patient safety initiatives must be customized to the context of the particular needs and resources of the specific healthcare setting, and technology and human-centered solutions must be synthesized to create safer and more effective care environments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Ahsani-Estahbanati, E., Sergeevich Gordeev, V., & Doshmangir, L. (2022). Interventions to reduce the incidence of medical error and its financial burden in health care systems: A systematic review of systematic reviews. Frontiers in medicine, 9, 875426. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.875426/full

Devin, J., Cleary, B. J., & Cullinan, S. (2020). The impact of health information technology on prescribing errors in hospitals: a systematic review and behaviour change technique analysis. Systematic reviews, 9, 1-17. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13643-020-01510-7

Hodkinson, A., Tyler, N., Ashcroft, D. M., Keers, R. N., Khan, K., Phipps, D., … & Panagioti, M. (2020). Preventable medication harm across health care settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC medicine, 18, 1-13. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12916-020-01774-9

Isaacs, A. N., Ch’ng, K., Delhiwale, N., Taylor, K., Kent, B., & Raymond, A. (2021). Hospital medication errors: a cross-sectional study. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 33(1), mzaa136. https://academic.oup.com/intqhc/article/33/1/mzaa136/5925732

Jaam, M., Naseralallah, L. M., Hussain, T. A., & Pawluk, S. A. (2021). Pharmacist-led educational interventions provided to healthcare providers to reduce medication errors: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PloS one, 16(6), e0253588. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0253588

Jean-Pierre, P. (2023). Why Medical Error is Killing You (and Everyone Else). U. Mich. JL Reform, 57, 481. https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/umijlr57&div=16&id=&page=