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BWH’s web-based safety reporting system logs between 60 and 80 confidential reports each month. The Patient Safety Team tracks and trends them, and brings them to the attention of appropriate managers. As a result, system improvements are implemented.
One such improvement came about to improve labeling of lab specimens. As part of a new bedside labeling system, Emergency Depart-ment caregivers now label the laboratory-bound patient specimens with a complete label right at the bedside to ensure accuracy and prevent delays when clinical laboratories receive a specimen with an incomplete label or one that is mislabeled.
“Feedback from clinical labs has turned into an improvement that benefits patient safety and benefits various departments,” said Erin Graydon-Baker, patient safety manager, who explains that incremental changes of this nature bring about big improvements.
“If we don’t know about issues, we can’t fix them,” said Graydon-Baker, who along with the other Patient Safety Team members are offering incentives for staff to bring issues to light using the web-based reporting system. Staff who submit reports during Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 6-12) will be eligible to win $50 American Express gift cards.
The Patient Safety Team is holding three drawings to award the $50 gift cards in addition to staffing informational tables outside the BWH Cafeteria. This week’s theme is “Patient Safety: Ask, Listen and Learn.” Also, there will be a display outside at the Bretholtz Center addressing important patient safety issues throughout the month.