November 2004

Program tackles safety for patients and staff

A concerted effort to put safety first has translated into a year-long campaign by Caulfield General Medical Centre.

The program, held across Bayside Health, has seen the network’s three hospitals, including CGMC, focus on safety for patients and staff.

The Safety First campaign was in response to adverse events occurring in hospitals worldwide, including medication errors, patient falls, increased aggression aimed at nurses and a greater number of back injuries suffered by nurses.

CGMC General Manager Fiona McKinnon said Safety First aimed to make the hospital a safer place for patients and staff.

‘We have targeted a number of issues throughout the year, including assisting our nurses to manage aggression or violence in the workplace.

‘We have had education and further training to help staff manage violent patients,’ Ms McKinnon said.

‘We have also focused on improving staff health by holding mini-health expos, tai chi demonstrations and providing information on stress reduction, diet and exercise.’

Another key component of the Safety First program has been the reinforcement of the ‘no lift’ policy, designed to minimise all staff back injuries.

Back injuries at CGMC have fallen from 65 per cent of all WorkCover claims for staff in 2002/03 to 23 per cent in 2003/04.

Safety First has not only been about staff safety but also patient safety.

One risk area identified over the year was medication errors.

About 80,000 patients are admitted to Australian hospitals each year with medication-related problems—an estimated 67 per cent preventable.

Also, medication errors in hospital continue to be an issue.

The THANKS campaign highlighted the need not to interrupt nurses during drug rounds, as concentration is required at this time.

The THANKS message is ‘Try Hard not to interrupt medication rounds, Administering medication requires Nurses’ full concentration. Kindly see another Staff member if possible.’

Open disclosure—admitting mistakes—is also a part of the Safety First program.

Bayside Health has been selected by the Australian Safety and Quality Council to be a pilot site for the rollout of the open disclosure program.

‘In Australia, when we need to visit a hospital we can expect to receive the safest care possible but sometimes things may not work out as expected,’ Ms McKinnon said.

‘If this happens, open disclosure ensures patient, family or carers are told what has gone wrong, as soon as possible after the event and staff can learn from mistakes.

‘The year-long program has reinforced the importance of safety as a core component of staff’s every day work,’ Ms McKinnon said.

The Safety First program finishes on December 8.