Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety
The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled the huge challenges and risks health workers are facing globally including health care associated infections, violence, stigma, psychological and emotional disturbances, illness and even death. Furthermore, working in stressful environments makes health workers more prone to errors which can lead to patient harm.
Recognizing patient safety as a global health priority, all 194 WHO Member States at the 72nd World Health Assembly, in May 2019, endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day (Resolution WHA72.6), to be marked annually on 17 September. The objectives of World Patient Safety Day are to increase public awareness and engagement, enhance global understanding, and spur global solidarity and action to promote patient safety.
World Health Organization site
ECRI’s World Patient Safety Day site includes:
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N95 Respirators, Safety of Extended Use and Re-use: Practical guidance for clinical centers about the potential risks and benefits to consider during decision making about N95 respirator reuse or extended use.
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Hand Hygiene: Proper hand hygiene can reduce the spread of COVID-19. This guidance article provides healthcare workers in the ambulatory and outpatient care settings with a detailed set of guidelines for proper hand hygiene.
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Impact of Burnout on Patient Safety: Health workers, already strained by the flu season, could soon be overrun by COVID-19 cases. This guidance article, published by ECRI last year, provides helpful tips for hospital staff during these stressful times.
A National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety
Institute for Healthcare Improvement. September 2020.
This National Action Plan developed by the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety – a group of 27 national organizations convened by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement – provides direction for healthcare leaders and organizations to implement and adapt effective tactics and supportive actions to establish the recommendations laid out in the plan. Its four areas of focus include culture, leadership, and governance, patient and family engagement, workforce safety and learning systems.