What are some of the best practices Eden Medical Center has put in place to reduce errors?
Our ongoing mission is to create a culture of patient safety where clinical staff are working with each other in more effective ways and sharing critical information so patient care is never compromised. We have found that when we drill down to the root causes of medical errors, 75 percent are related to poor communication. Our Patient Safety Committee has adapted SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation), a framework originated by the U.S. Navy to help the nuclear submarine employees communicate about catastrophic events. We use the principles of SBAR for members of our care teams to communicate about a patient’s condition, regardless of their role on the team. We view the care team as anyone who interfaces with the patient, from housekeepers and dieticians to nurses, doctors and surgeons. The Patient Safety Committee now has a focused way to set expectations for what needs to be communicated, and how to do it effectively. We are trying to maintain an environment where
