19 Jun Susan wrote: 1. As mentioned in the LDI Louise Batz video,

Susan wrote:

1. As mentioned in the LDI Louise Batz video, how does lack of teamwork, lack of knowledge and lack of technology impact the occurrence of preventable medical errors? 

Teamwork is crucial and necessary in caring for patients. At some point in time, they should have got the patient’s history and known about her sleep apnea. Asking questions about what medications she has used in the past for pain and how she deals with pain could have also been beneficial. The patient really didn’t have any reason to be on three different sedative drugs. The nurse should have been knowledgeable enough about the medications and the side effects and educated the patient and family about the signs to watch for. You should always assess the pain scale before giving the med and at a specific time frame after to reassess. The patient and family had earlier stated she did not need all that medication, yet she was given them anyway. There should have been communication between the staff and the patient. If patients are being put on medications (especially 3 different sedatives) then there should have been a system in place for closer monitoring. Whether she had oxygen and heart rate monitoring constantly or more frequent vitals, or informative key side effects and things to monitor when giving these drugs. We need to use our clinical judgment. I would rather ask more questions, or take the time to look something up that I’m unsure about than just disregard it and make a life-changing mistake. 

2. How do Human Factors influence healthcare errors? Describe what you have seen in either your professional or personal life.

We are human and therefore capable of making mistakes. Nurses typically work long shifts, especially in the hospital setting. Stress, workload, poor communication, and other things can lead to making errors. I have known other nurses that have made medication errors before. Luckily they didn’t cause any harm to the patients. As a patient myself, I have had my chart documented incorrectly indicating I had a procedure done that I had not. I also didn’t have my eyes fully taped shut during a surgery which resulted in corneal abrasion. That was worse pain than any other surgery I had ever had or birth experience. I didn’t have any permanent damage, but had blurred vision for several weeks and did have severe pain, and couldn’t open my eye for a few days. 

3. How can patients and their families be included in the healthcare team and how would this impact healthcare?

I believe that patients should always be included as part of the healthcare team and have a say in their plan of care. Families can be very helpful and can provide knowledge or help in the communication between patients and staff. This is also assuming and only if the patient wants the family to be included in their care. It is extremely important to have good communication and make sure the patient understands the treatment and plan of care during their stay. 

Brian wrote:

1. As mentioned in the LDI Louise Batz video, how does lack of teamwork, lack of knowledge and lack of technology impact the occurrence of preventable medical errors?

Yes, I do believe that with all three factors we do see more medical errors in the workplace. I believe that open communication between family and healthcare workers is highly important as well as open communication between healthcare professionals. When the teamwork as a well oiled machine the risk of medical errors decreases, patients and family members are involved within that team.

2. How do Human Factors influence healthcare errors? Describe what you have seen in either your professional or personal life.

I have seen on numerous occasions, nurses in a medical surgical or ortho floor follow directions blindly. Instead of questioning some recommendations the doctors or another healthcare professional has suggested or ordered. They would follow it blindly and give the prescribed narcotic, insulin, or even blood pressure medication when the patient did not need the said medication.

3. How can patients and their families be included in the healthcare team and how would this impact healthcare?

Communication is key, in some of the floors I have been apart of communication was not a major part of treatment. Patient would benefit from collaboration with their own care and suggestions. Patients and families should be made aware of what the next step is and what the options are for the next step. The families can be made aware of the changes in the patient condition so they can reach goals with each other and produce more positive outcomes.