Patient safety and quality of care are of the utmost importance in healthcare facilities nationwide. To improve clinical outcomes, healthcare employers must also focus on the safety and well-being of their staff. When healthcare employees are supported mentally, physically and emotionally, they are more satisfied in their roles and better able to focus on patient care throughout the day.
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Modern health care offers sophisticated, complex treatments for a wide array of health concerns. These treatment plans often involve more than one provider or service, each with unique demands and requirements. It is imperative for strong communication to remain steadfast throughout a patient lifecycle – from admission and evaluation, to handoff to another provider and eventually discharge – to avoid errors or inefficiencies.
With the advancement of EMRs came more requirements for healthcare providers in terms of documentation. One study found physicians spend 27 percent of their day with patients compared to 49 percent on EMR and desk work. In fact, providers need to fill out an average of 20,000 forms every year. Sometimes insufficient information can also increase time spent on a computer versus with the patient. According to another study, 70 percent of specialists rate the patient referral information they receive from other providers as fair or poor.
Healthcare providers put themselves on the front lines of violent situations each day. The U.S. Department of Labor defines workplace violence as an action that is verbal, written or physical intended to control or cause harm or death to people or property. Factors contributing to these safety risks include working directly with people who have a history of violence or may be delirious or under the influence of drugs. From 2002 – 2013, the Department of Labor reports the rate of serious workplace violence incidents was more than four times greater in healthcare than in private industry on average, with healthcare accounting for nearly as many serious violent injuries as all other industries combined.
Taking care of people is a demanding job at all levels of health care, and the stress can build up over time, potentially leading to long-term health problems. In health care specifically, the shift work aspect of the job can take a toll on providers and create safety concerns in the workplace. When working long hours or night shifts, providers’ internal circadian rhythms get disrupted causing chronic sleep deprivation. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, lack of sleep increases staff’s risk for high blood pressure, obesity, depression, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses.
In a healthcare setting, machines are constantly emitting alerts and notifications to providers. Studies show these alarms can overwhelm staff, often exposing them to hundreds of alarms per day, many of which are false. According to the Joint Commission, 85 to 90 percent of alarm signals do not require clinical intervention.
Burnout occurs when care teams experience physical, mental and emotional exhaustion stemming from their long hours, stressful work environment and responsibilities. These stressors can translate into a poor patient experience, higher risk for medical errors, and increased staff turnover.
Topics: Healthcare
Patient safety and quality of care are of the utmost importance in healthcare facilities nationwide. To improve clinical outcomes, healthcare employers must also focus on the safety and well-being of their staff. When healthcare employees are supported mentally, physically and emotionally, they are more satisfied in their roles and better able to focus on patient care throughout the day.
Infectious diseases easily pass directly or indirectly from one person to another, creating significant threats in healthcare settings. The World Health Organization (WHO) found three common types of infectious diseases ranked in the top 10 causes of death globally: lower respiratory infections, HIV/AIDS
and diarrheal diseases. Other serious infectious diseases that pose a great risk to patient safety include influenza, small pox, hepatitis and tuberculosis.
Pain affects more Americans than diabetes and cancer combined, afflicting more than 100 million Americans.