What are patient safety solutions?
Patient Safety Solutions are defined as any system design or intervention that has demonstrated the ability to prevent or mitigate patient harm stemming from the processes of health care.
Solutions disseminated by the Collaborating Centre will be evidence-based, presented in a standard format and will describe in simple terms what to do to address the risks associated with a particular safety problem. An individual solution will present the problem, the strength of evidence supporting the solution, potential barriers to adoption, risks of unintended consequences created by the solution, patient and family roles in the solution, and references and other resources.
In order to facilitate the accurate identification of solutions and the adaptation of solutions to different needs, an international steering committee composed of recognized leaders and experts in patient safety was convened. The International Steering Committee oversees the selection of topics and the development of solutions. The candidate solutions are then prioritized based on potential impact, strength of evidence, and feasibility for adoption or adaptation in all countries.
The highest-priority Solutions are also reviewed by Regional Advisory Groups in different areas of the world. A major international field review of the proposed solutions is then conducted to gather feedback from leading patient safety entities, accrediting bodies, ministries of health, international health professional organizations and practitioners, patients, and other experts.
the nine inaugural solutions
In April 2007, the International Steering Committee was convened and approved nine solutions for publication and dissemination. The nine inaugural patient safety solutions available for use by WHO Member States from May 2007 are as follows:
- Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Medication Names
- Patient Identification
- Communication During Patient Hand-Overs
- Performance of Correct Procedure at Correct Body Site
- Control of Concentrated Electrolyte Solutions
- Assuring Medication Accuracy at Transitions in Care
- Avoiding Catheter and Tubing Mis-Connections
- Single Use of Injection Devices
- Improved Hand Hygiene to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections
These nine solutions were launched on 2 May 2007 at the Washington Press Club, Washington DC, USA.