Improving the Patient Safety Culture in Nursing Homes Through WalkRounds

摘要

Common patient safety events that occur in nursing homes and other long term care organizations include pressure ulcers, falls, medication safety events, use of physical restraints, and infection control outbreaks.1 Although the prevalence of such events is unknown in the nursing home setting, patient safety culture is an essential component of efforts to reduce medical errors and improve the overall quality of care. The National Nursing Home Quality Improvement Campaign,2 which began in 2006 as the Advancing Excellence in Americas Nursing Homes Campaign, includes nine organizational and clinical outcomes goals aimed at supporting quality improvement efforts in nursing homes. While these efforts should be lauded, the extent of the campaign's penetration and impact in the United States, including changes in patient safety culture, has yet to be determined. Furthermore, the campaign lacks a focus on patient safety communication and collaboration among team members and a discussion about how staff can work in nonpunitive environments-hallmark features of a culture of patient safety.