Write 8-10 pages in which you identify a major patient-safety issue within your own organization and use evidence-based best practices and technology to develop a plan to improve the safety issue. As you prepare for this assessment, complete the following: As you construct this assessment, address each point as completely as possible:

Title: Enhancing Patient Safety through Evidence-based Best Practices and Technology

Introduction:
Patient safety is a critical concern in healthcare organizations, as it involves preventing harm to patients during their healthcare journeys. Despite the advancement in medical technologies and improved healthcare practices, patient safety issues continue to persist. This assignment aims to identify a major patient safety issue within my own organization and develop a plan to improve it using evidence-based best practices and technology. The organization under consideration is a tertiary care hospital with a diverse patient population.

Identification of Patient Safety Issue:
Upon careful analysis and observation, the major patient safety issue identified within the organization is medication errors. Medication errors refer to any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while under the control of a healthcare professional, patient, or consumer. These errors occur due to various factors, including communication breakdown, lack of standardization, inadequate staff training, and inefficient technology utilization.

Analysis of the Patient Safety Issue:
Medication errors can have severe consequences for patients, including adverse drug reactions, treatment delays, and even death. According to a study conducted by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), medication errors account for approximately 7,000 deaths per year in the United States alone. Additionally, medication errors result in increased healthcare costs, both for patients and healthcare organizations. Therefore, it is vital to address this issue promptly and effectively to ensure patient safety and enhance patient outcomes.

Evidence-based Best Practices:
To address the identified patient safety issue, evidence-based best practices will be utilized. Evidence-based practice involves integrating clinical expertise, patient preferences and values, and the best available evidence to guide clinical decision-making. In the context of medication errors, the following evidence-based best practices can be implemented:

1. Standardized Medication Processes: Implementing standardized medication processes helps ensure consistency and uniformity in medication administration. This includes standardizing medication ordering, preparation, dispensing, and administration guidelines.

2. Medication Reconciliation: Medication reconciliation involves comparing the medications a patient is taking with what the healthcare provider has prescribed, to avoid discrepancies and ensure accurate medication administration. It should be conducted at every transition of care.

3. Barcoding and Electronic Medication Administration Record (eMAR): Barcode scanning technology, along with an electronic medication administration record (eMAR), has been proven effective in reducing medication errors. Barcoding technology helps verify the right medication, dose, and patient before administration, while eMAR provides real-time information about medications and alerts for potential errors.

4. Implementing Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS): CDSS is a technological tool that provides clinicians with evidence-based guidelines, drug-drug interaction alerts, and dosage recommendations at the point of care. CDSS helps improve medication safety by minimizing errors related to drug selection, dosing, and interactions.

5. Robust Staff Education and Training: Comprehensive education and training programs should be implemented to enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals regarding medication safety. This should include training on medication administration techniques, medication error prevention strategies, and effective communication between healthcare providers.

Integration of Technology:
Utilizing technology is crucial to enhance patient safety and mitigate medication errors. The following technological solutions can be integrated into the plan to address the patient safety issue effectively:

1. Electronic Health Records (EHR): EHR systems provide a comprehensive overview of the patient’s medical history, including medications prescribed and allergies. This allows healthcare professionals to make informed decisions and reduces the risk of medication errors.

2. Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE): CPOE systems enable healthcare providers to electronically prescribe medications, reducing the chances of misinterpretation or transcription errors. CPOE can also check for potential drug interactions and allergies.

3. Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADC): ADCs can be implemented to improve medication storage and dispensing. These cabinets employ barcode scanning technology and secure storage, reducing the risk of medication errors and unauthorized access.

4. Smart Infusion Pumps: Smart infusion pumps can help prevent medication errors by incorporating drug libraries and dosage limits. These pumps can flag potential errors and provide alerts, ensuring safer administration of intravenous medications.

Conclusion:
Addressing the patient safety issue of medication errors is crucial to enhance patient outcomes and minimize healthcare costs. By implementing evidence-based best practices and integrating technology, the proposed plan aims to improve medication safety within the organization. Standardized processes, medication reconciliation, barcode scanning technology, CDSS, and staff education/training will contribute to reducing medication errors. The integration of EHR, CPOE, ADC, and smart infusion pumps will further enhance medication safety. With a comprehensive and evidence-based approach, patient safety can be prioritized and maintained at a higher standard within the organization.