Enhancing Patient Safety Communication

Enhancing Patient Safety Communication

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) encourages collaboration across different disciplines to seek solutions that provide a culture of safety for patients. This collaboration must include informatics as part of the interprofessional team. Patient safety is always at the center of the design and adoption of any technology introduced in a patient care setting. Reflect on a recent patient situation and describe three communication tools that were used to provide quality care. How did these communication tools assist the interprofessional team in making decisions for the patient? Provide one example of how technology in this situation can be improved.

Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN Discussion Question Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.

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APA

Enhancing Patient Safety Communication

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) emphasizes the importance of interprofessional collaboration and the integration of informatics to ensure a culture of patient safety. A recent patient situation involved a 65-year-old male admitted for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The interprofessional team utilized the following communication tools to provide quality care:

1. Electronic Health Records (EHR)
   EHRs allowed real-time access to the patient’s medical history, laboratory results, and medication list. This facilitated seamless communication among the care team, ensuring accurate documentation and efficient sharing of critical information. For example, the endocrinologist reviewed lab results and adjusted the patient’s insulin regimen, which was immediately visible to the nursing staff.
2. Secure Messaging Applications
   The team used a secure messaging platform to coordinate care. Physicians and nurses communicated directly regarding changes in the patient’s condition, such as fluctuating blood glucose levels, enabling rapid response to critical situations. The app ensured HIPAA compliance while fostering immediate communication.
3. Bedside Reporting
   Shift-to-shift bedside reporting ensured that all care providers were informed of the patient’s current status and care plan. This tool encouraged collaborative decision-making by involving nurses, physicians, and family members in discussions, aligning goals and interventions for the patient’s recovery.

Impact on Decision-Making
These tools streamlined communication, minimized delays in treatment, and ensured consistent care delivery. For example, real-time updates in the EHR allowed the pharmacist to cross-check medications for potential contraindications, preventing adverse drug interactions.

Improvement Opportunity
One area for improvement is integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into the EHR system. AI could analyze patient data and provide predictive insights, such as early warnings for complications like hypoglycemia or infection, enabling proactive interventions and further enhancing patient safety.

References

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). (n.d.). Culture of safety. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov
• McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2021). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.