Patient Safety in the Community

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that despite the rapid shift from institutional to community care, limited attention has been given to gauging or evaluating patient safety in the Canadian public sector. This paper sets out to define key terms in patient safety within the public health movement. The writer examines barriers that exist within the public health division and discusses significant patient safety issues. Further, the writer defines strategies for incorporating safety into the community arena and provides examples of current programs within the community that employ patient safety principles. The writer concludes that by preventing illness, injury and disease from adverse events, the sustainability of the publicly funded health care is strengthened as investments in prevention divert pressures over the long term.

From the Paper:

"Changes brought on by the strains of the 21st century are revolutionizing the face of health care in Canada. Over the last ten years numerous countries including Canada have begun to focus on safety issues as pressures mount to target and reduce preventable injuries and death amongst patients. The epidemiological investigations that sparked these labors have demonstrated a consistently high level of error, although the spotlight has been almost exclusively on acute care settings. Surprisingly, most research has besieged regulated systems such as hospitals, even though literature shows a growing demand for home care services in Canada. Organized institutions such as hospitals are able to provide care with specialized professionals and support staff however the home care environment is much less controlled. Patient care is often supplied by unregulated healthcare personnel and family members in a location that was intended for living not for health care."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Lang, A., Edwards, N., Hoffman, C., Shamian, J., Benjamin, K., &Rowe, M. (2006). Broadening the patient safety agenda to include home care services. Healthcare Quarterly. 9(Sp). 124-126.
• O'Brien-Pallas, L., Doran-Irvine, D., Murray, M., Cockerill, R., Sidani, S., Laurie-Shaw, B., & Lochhaas-Gerlach, J. (2001). Evaluation of a client care deliver model, part 1: variability in nursing utilization in community home nursing. Nursing Economics, Nov-Dec. 2001. 20(1). 13-21.
• Kolt, L.T., Corrigan, J.M., & Donaldson, M.S. (2000). To err is human: building a safer health system. Institute of Medicine. National Academy Press. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
• Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion: An International Conference on Health Promotion, (1986). November 17-20. Ottawa, Canada.
• Canadian Nurses Association (2004). Nurses and patient safety: A discussion paper. Ottawa: Author.

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