Five International Patient Safety Solutions Proposed
The World Health Organization today invited health ministries, health care provider organizations, health care professionals, patient safety advocates, consumers, and other interested parties to comment on five proposed, potentially life-saving Patient Safety Solutions that have been selected as priorities by its Collaborating Centre's International Steering Committee. The electronic Patient Safety Solutions survey will be available online until Feb. 29, 2008, at www.jcipatientsafety.org/survey.
The five proposed solutions address these challenges:
- Prevention of patient falls;
- Prevention of pressure ulcers;
- Response to the deteriorating patient;
- Communication of critical test results; and
- Prevention of bloodstream infections associated with central lines.
The proposed solutions have been reviewed by the International Steering Committee and Regional Advisory Councils in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region and the WHO Alliance, with their comments already integrated in the solutions. The Middle East Advisory Council will meet early in 2008, and its comments will be included with the input received from the overall international field review. WHO said it is interested in comments regarding the content and feasibility of these solutions and wants input from people who have actually experienced related adverse health care events. After feedback from the field review has been incorporated, they will again be reviewed and then acted upon by the International Steering Committee in spring 2008.
"A differentiating and very positive aspect of the work of the Collaborating Centre has been the collaborative nature of the work and the fact that the solutions are reviewed by various professionals and patients throughout the world to better understand their feasibility and applicability," said Karen H. Timmons, president and CEO of Joint Commission Resources Inc. and Joint Commission International Inc.