INTERNATIONAL
PATIENT SAFETY
RAHIMA M. SALENDAB, BSN, RN

PATIENTS SAFETY,,,,????
Prevent medical errors
Protect patient from harm

INTERNATIONAL PATIENT
SAFETY GOALS
AUTHORED BY JCI (JOINT COMMISSION
INTERNATIONAL)
STARTED AT JANUARY 1, 2007

INTERNATIONAL PATIENT
SAFETY GOALS:
1. IDENTIFY PATIENT CORRECTLY
2. IMPROVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
3. IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF HIGH ALERT
MEDICATION
4. ENSURE CORRECT – SITE, CORRECT – PROCEDURE,
CORRECT – PATIENT SURGERY
5. REDUCE THE RISK OF HEALTH CARE ASSOSIATED
INFECTION
6. REDUCE THE RISK OF PATIENT HARM RESULTING
FROM FALLS

IPSG – 1 (IDENTIFY PATIENT CORRECTLY)
 WHEN GIVING ANY TREATMENT
 WHEN DOING ANY PROCEDURE
(PATIENT ROOM CANNOT BE USED AS
AN IDENTIFIER)

FAILURES TO CORRECTLY IDENTIFY
THE PATIENTS LEAD TO:
MEDICATION ERROR
TRANSFUSION ERROR
TESTING ERROR
WRONG PERSON PROCEDURE

IPSG – 2 (IMPROVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION)
 COMMUNICATION AMONG NURSE
ENDORSEMENT
 NURSING DOCUMENTATION
CLEAR AND LEGIBLE HAND WRITING
DATE, TIME & SIGNATURE FOR EACH
ENTRY

IPSG – 2 (IMPROVE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION)
TELEPHONE ORDER VERBAL ORDER
 WRITE DOWN THE ENTIRE
 REPEAT BACK
ORDER
 START THE ORDER
 READ BACK
 SIGN AFTER SITUATION IS
 WITNESS
OVER OR BEFORE PHYSICIAN
 SIGN WITHIN 24 HOURS
LEAVE THE AREA

IPSG – 3 (IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF HIGH ALERT MEDICATIONS)
(DRUGS THAT BEAR A HIGHTENED RISK
CAUSING SIGNIFICANT PATIENT HARM
WHEN USED IN ERROR)

IPSG – 3 (IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF HIGH ALERT MEDICATIONS)
TOP FIVE HIGH ALERT MEDICATIONS ARE:
1. INSULIN
2. NARCOTICS
3. INJECTABLE POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
(PHOSPHATE) CONCENTRATED
4. INTRAVENOUS ANTICOAGULANTS
5. SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION ABOVE 0.9 %

LOOK ALIKE MEDICINE

Example of SOUND ALIKE
Folinic Acid Folic Acid
Amidaron Amlor
Zinnat Zantac
Flumazenil Flamazine
Parlodel Panadol
Tazocin Prazocin
Ferrosac Ferriprox
Kafocid Keflex
Lasix Losec
Aldactone Aldomet
Ranitidine Loratidine
voltarin ventolin

IPSG – 3 (IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF HIGH ALERT MEDICATIONS)
7 RIGHTS
1.RIGHT PATIENT
2.RIGHT MEDICATION
3.RIGHT TIME
4.RIGHT ROUTE
5.RIGHT DOSAGE
6.RIGHT FREQUENCY
7.RIGHT DOCUMENATION

IPSG – 4 (ENSURE CORRECT – SITE, CORRECT – PROCEDURE,
CORRECT – PATIENT SURGERY)
UNIVERSAL PROTOCOL FOR WRONG SITE,
PROCEDURE,
AND SURGERY PREVENTION
 MARKING THE SURGICAL SITE
 A PRE – OPERATIVE VERIFICATION
PROCESS
 A TIME – OUT THAT IS HELD
IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE START OF A
PROCEDURE
(The pause before surgery begins is known as
"time out" and is intended to make everyone slow
down for a few moments and double check what
they are about to do.)

IPSG – 5 (REDUCE THE RISK OF HEALTH CARE ASSOCIATED
INFECTION
 EFFECTIVE HAND – HYGIENE
 COMPLY WITH THE CURRENT PUBLISHED
& GENERAL ACCEPTED HAND – HYGIENE
GUIDELINES

IPSG – 6 (REDUCE THE RISK OF PATIENT HARM RESULTING FROM
FALLS)
 INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF PATIENT FALL RISK &
REASSESSMENT OF PATIENT WHEN INDICATED
BY A CHANGE IN CONDITION OR MEDICATIONS
 Document and report your observations and
your interventions

INTERNATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS
(USE CAPITAL LETTERS OF EACH WORD TO REMIND YOU OF THE GOAL)
I I D E NT I F Y patients correctly (patient’s room cannot be used) when giving / doing
any treatment or procedure.
CAN COM M UNI CAT I ON – improved effective communication through
implementation of a process or procedure for taking verbal or telephone
orders or for reporting critical test results that require a verification
“read back” of the complete order or test result by the person receiving
the information.
MEMORIZE M E D I CAT I ON – IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF HIGH ALERT MEDICATIONS.
Remove concentrated electrolytes (including but not limited to Potassium
chloride, Potassium Phosphate, Sodium Chloride ˃0.9% from patient
care units.
EVERYTHING E LI M I NAT E – WRONG SITE, WRONG PATIENT, WRONG –
PROCEDURE IN SURGERY
I I NF E CT I ON – reduce the risk of Health Care – Acquired Infections comply with
the current published and generally accepted hand hygiene guidelines.
FANCY F ALL – reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from FALL. Take action to decrease
or eliminate any identified risks.