International Patient Safety Goals

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

International_patient_safety_goals.jpg

== International Patient Safety Goals ==

The International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) are a set of objectives established by the Joint Commission International (JCI) to promote specific improvements in patient safety. The goals highlight problematic areas in health care and describe evidence- and expert-based consensus solutions to these problems. The IPSG are designed to be applicable to all health care organizations and aim to improve patient safety by addressing critical areas of concern.

Goals[edit | edit source]

The IPSG consist of six primary goals:

1. Identify Patients Correctly[edit | edit source]

Proper patient identification is crucial to ensure that each patient receives the correct treatment and medication. This goal emphasizes the use of at least two identifiers (such as the patient's name and date of birth) to verify a patient's identity before administering any medical intervention.

2. Improve Effective Communication[edit | edit source]

Effective communication among caregivers is essential for patient safety. This goal focuses on timely and accurate communication of critical test results and other important information to the appropriate medical personnel.

3. Improve the Safety of High-Alert Medications[edit | edit source]

High-alert medications are drugs that have a higher risk of causing significant harm if used incorrectly. This goal aims to improve the safety of these medications by standardizing processes and ensuring proper handling and administration.

4. Ensure Correct-Site, Correct-Procedure, Correct-Patient Surgery[edit | edit source]

This goal seeks to prevent surgical errors by implementing protocols to verify the correct site, procedure, and patient before surgery. This includes marking the surgical site and conducting a "time-out" to confirm all details before proceeding.

5. Reduce the Risk of Health Care-Associated Infections[edit | edit source]

Health care-associated infections (HAIs) are a major concern in medical facilities. This goal promotes the implementation of evidence-based practices to reduce the risk of HAIs, such as hand hygiene and the use of personal protective equipment.

6. Reduce the Risk of Patient Harm Resulting from Falls[edit | edit source]

Falls can cause significant injury to patients, especially in hospital settings. This goal focuses on assessing patients' fall risk and implementing measures to prevent falls, such as using bed rails and providing assistance with mobility.

Implementation[edit | edit source]

Health care organizations seeking accreditation from the Joint Commission International must demonstrate compliance with the IPSG. This involves integrating the goals into their policies and procedures, training staff, and continuously monitoring and improving patient safety practices.

Importance[edit | edit source]

The IPSG are critical in promoting a culture of safety within health care organizations. By addressing key areas of risk, the goals help to minimize errors, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the overall quality of care.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

External Links[edit | edit source]

Template:JCI


Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD