Nursing the Joint Commission Outlines Patient Safety

Nursing

The Joint Commission outlines Patient Safety Goals for a number of different areas of health care service. One of those areas is behavioral health. The 2012 National Patient Safety Goals include the accurate identification of clients using name and date of birth. This is suggested "to make sure that each client gets the correct medicine and treatment," (NPSG.01.01.01). This Patient Safety Goal is important for increasing patient safety and outcomes. A mistaken identity can mean giving the wrong treatment at the wrong time to the wrong patient, which could be disastrous or deadly. Similarly, misidentification can lead to medication errors that can also be deadly. This Patient Safety Goal is important from an administrative standpoint, because it suggests that nurse practitioner and all healthcare workers be aware of intake procedures.

In addition to NPSG 01.01.01, the Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals for Behavioral Health includes the use of medicines safely. This goal pertains to how information related to medication is recorded, how that information is passed on or communicated to the patient, and what specific types of medication the patient is taking at any given time. Also as part of this goal, which is NPSG 03.06.01, is comparing medications that the patient is currently taking to new medications that might be better. Healthcare workers should also have a plan for encouraging patients to take their medications when they are at home or in an out patient facility. Monitoring patients for their medications is part of the goal, and advising patients about telling their doctors what medications they are on is also part of the goal.

Both NPSF01.01.01 and NPSG03.06.01 can be achieved via the use of electronic medical records. There is ample evidence to suggest that electronic medical records can remedy patient errors and prevent errors. Miller & Sim (2004) state, "the electronic medical record (EMR) is an enabling technology that allows physician practices to pursue more powerful quality improvement programs than is possible with paper-based records," (p. 491). Electronic medical records are suggested as a means to fulfill both the Patient Safety Goals outlined in the behavioral health section. With regards to NPSG01.01.01, electronic medical records provide the most robust way possible to identify patients rapidly. In cases where patient data is not readily available, it can be possible to use biometrics or photographic images to prevent misidentification of patients. Therefore, electronic medical records can help health care organizations and health care workers achieve the NPSG01.01.01 patient safety goal.