2008  JCAHO National Patient Safety Goals

Goal 1: Improve the accuracy of patient identification

• Use at least two patient identifiers (neither to be the patients room number) when providing any treatments or procedures

Goal 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers

• Persons receiving verbal or telephone orders or critical test results must “read-back” the complete order or test result
• Standardize abbreviations, acronyms and symbols that are not to be used throughout the organization
• Ensure timeliness of reporting and the timeliness of receipt by the responsible licensed caregiver of critical test results and values
• Implement a standard approach to “hand off” communication, including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions

Goal 3: Improve the safety of using medications

• Identify and minimally, annually review the look-alike/sound-alike drugs used and take action to prevent errors involving the interchange of these drugs
• Label all medication, medication containers or other solutions on and off of the sterile field
• Reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulation therapy

Goal 7: Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections

• Comply with current CDC hand hygiene guidelines
• All identified cases of unanticipated death or major permanent loss of function associated with a health care-associated infection are to be managed as sentinel events

Goal 8: Accurately and completely reconcile medication across the continuum of care

• Obtain a complete list of the patient’s current medication upon admission. Include a comparison of the medication the organization provides to those on the list and document.
• Communicate a complete list of the patient’s medications to the next provider of service when a patient is transferred to another setting, service, practitioner or level of care and to the patient on discharge.

Goal 9: Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls

• Implement a fall reduction program and evaluate the effectiveness of the program

Goal 13: Encourage patients’ active involvement in their own care

• “Speak Up Campaign”
• Encourage pt and family to report concerns about safety

Goal 15: Identify safety risks inherent in your patient population

• Identify patients at risk for suicide

Goal 16: Improve recognition and response to changes in a patient’s condition

• A method for health care staff to request assistance from trained individuals when a patients condition appears to be worsening

Universal Protocol

• Wrong site, wrong procedure, wrong person surgery can and must be prevented
• All members of the surgical team, and the patient (as possible) should be involved in the process
• Verification: marking site and conducting a “time-out” prior to starting the procedure are required
• Applicable for non-OR settings including bedside procedures