Here are some top tweets from Tuesday’s chat, broken down by the four main topics covered.
Topic 1: What are chief risk areas and prevention strategies for communication gaps or breakdowns?
CMS’ Quality Improvement Organizations Program noted patient transitions are one of the riskiest times for patients.
A1: Care transitions can be risky to #patientsafety if healthcare providers don’t communicate during the transition #psaw17chat
— QIO Program (@QIOProgram) March 14, 2017
NPSF encouraged clinicians to improve communication with patients using Ask Me 3, an educational module.
A1 Clinicians: Promote Clear Health Communication with Ask Me 3, free educational module https://t.co/QESE8g25iQ
— NPSF (@theNPSF) March 14, 2017
And the American Public Health Association reminded everyone on the importance of educating patients to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
A1 Preventing health care-associated infections means educating patients on their role https://t.co/T6YesqYV19 #psaw17chat pic.twitter.com/GvNQqbvK5V
— APHA (@PublicHealth) March 14, 2017
Topic 2: What strategies can promote medication safety?
The CDC noted adverse drug events as a major patient safety problem.
A2 Adverse drug events are a serious #patientsafety problem & cause over 1.3 million ED visits each yr. https://t.co/tYquwqyY6r #psaw17chat
— CDC (@CDCgov) March 14, 2017
The federal agency also encouraged proper use of antibiotics.
A2 Ask if your antibiotic is necessary & what’s being done to improve antibiotic use & protect patients. https://t.co/j1pbWskRH8 #psaw17chat pic.twitter.com/QhxrXY59tJ
— CDC (@CDCgov) March 14, 2017
And the American Society of Professionals in Patient Safety at NPSF provided six tips aimed at patients to avoid medication errors.
A2 #PSAW17chat Patients: 6 Tips to Avoid Medication Mistakes https://t.co/xBsQ3MDSuV @US_FDA
— ASPPS (@ASPPSatNPSF) March 14, 2017
Topic 3: Is there a difference between patient experience and patient engagement, and how do they contribute to patient safety?
NPSF kicked things off by noting patient experience and patient engagement have many overlaps.
A3 Definite overlaps in #ptexperience + engagement see @TGandhi_NPSF https://t.co/0ViGguGs4A
— NPSF (@theNPSF) March 14, 2017
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offered advice on how to engage patients and families to improve patient safety.
A3 #AHRQ: Improve #Patient Safety in Primary Care Settings by Engaging #Patients & Families. #psaw17chat https://t.co/2La69iA85q pic.twitter.com/jvtKXmf3Ev
— AHRQ (@AHRQNews) March 14, 2017
And Chris Worsham, MD, the chief medical resident and chief resident in quality and safety at Boston University School of Medicine, said engaged patients are “the last line of defense for errors.”
A3: Patients who are engaged, know what’s going on in their care, and speak up are the last line of defense for errors #PSAW17chat @theNPSF
— Chris Worsham, MD (@ChrisWorsham) March 14, 2017
Topic 4: Is healthcare safer now than it was 20 years ago? What are the top successes and pressing challenges?
NPSF noted the need for a coordinated, national plan to improve patient safety.
A4 We need a National Action Plan for #ptsafety https://t.co/lhSLqsTipG #PSAW17chat pic.twitter.com/xYXDLuMxDV
— NPSF (@theNPSF) March 14, 2017
AHRQ noted its CUSP tool as successful in reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections.
A4. Success: #AHRQ’s CUSP tool helped hospitals reduce #CLABSI. Your facility can do it too. Access tools. https://t.co/vJbPZoCa7G pic.twitter.com/PZSxhkVwKg
— AHRQ (@AHRQNews) March 14, 2017
Several participants noted antibiotic resistance as a major challenge. The CDC left with these words of wisdom:
A4 Fight #AntibioticResistance by prescribing the right antibiotic at the right dose for the right duration & only when needed. #psaw17chat
— CDC (@CDCgov) March 14, 2017
Follow the full chat at #PSAW17Chat on Twitter.
More articles on patient safety:
Joint Commission: 10 most common sentinel events of 2016
ECRI Institute: Top 10 patient safety concerns of 2017
In talks with staff, Swedish’s interim CEO learns of culture of intimidation
