CAP Today: Culture of Patient Safety in Hospitals
A recent article in CAP TODAY states that "when it comes to protecting patients in the hospital, the presence or absence of a culture of safety can make a very tangible difference, one that can be measured in concrete units related to potential patient harm: error rates, length of stay, morbidity, and mortality."
Two members of the CAP Public Health Policy Committee, Michael B. Cohen, MD, and Emily E. Volk, MD, argue that pathologists should address patient safety as a whole, and consider that the role of clinical pathology in the overall patient experience affects safety more than many realize. In fact, "with about 70 percent of medical decisions being made on the basis of information from the laboratory, pathologists and other laboratory professionals are front and center in caring for patients." As a result of this, the responsibility of pathologists to be unyieldingly safe and accurate is "tremendous," says Dr. Volt, and pathologists are in a great position to advocate for investing in technology to help ensure patient safety.
To learn more about building a culture of patient safety in hospitals, and to read the original article, click here.
