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Hospital ErrorsAccording to a new report, over $200 billion worth of new hospitals are planned for the next decade. The Institute of Medicine has suggested as many as 98,000 Americans die every year from preventable hospital errors, in addition to the estimated two million patients that contract dangerous infections while in the hospital. These estimated hospital errors indicated the need to immediately implement changes to reduce the numbers. With the intensity of what goes on in hospitals and the long hours doctors work, hospital errors do occur. The new report argues the way the hospitals are built will have a direct influence on the way the patients and staff will make out. By simply building hospitals a different way, the report believes the number of hospital errors will be reduced with better patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction met instead. An environmental psychologist and architect, alongside a professor of architecture collaborated to review and assemble 600 studies. The studies were formed to see how hospital design affected patient outcomes and satisfaction and was the duration of six months. Studies have shown that hospital surroundings can create stress for patients, families, and hospital staff. The lighting, views from the windows, level of noise, air quality and ventilation in the hospital, as well as other factors contribute to hospital errors. Easily eliminated hospital errors can occur with increasing the frequency the staff washes their hands between patients. The problem is attributed to training and management, though the design of the hospital could also greatly affect it. According to tests, placing a sink in a place where doctors, nurses, and other staff will pass before reaching the patient can make a significant difference. Considered the most urgent changes necessary, the report authors believe that getting rid of double occupancy rooms, improving ventilation systems and adding air filters, installing more sound absorbing walls with better lighting, and allowing hospitals to be more easily navigable will have a significant impact on the reduction of hospital errors. Double-occupancy room elimination can cut back on the number of hospital infections and stress levels. With outbreaks or biological attacks, the addition of improved ventilation systems and added air filters can be essential in isolating it to the affected hospital room. More and more programs are being implemented in hopes of curbing the number of future hospital errors. Since hospital errors are often not tracked, some programs are trying to keep record in order to gather information so that there is more information available to determine what can be done to prevent them. The problem with these type of programs aimed at reducing hospital errors is it is voluntary and consumer advocates argue that patients have a right to get as much information as possible about heath care providers. While the voluntary reporting programs has already been put into place in twenty- two states and talks of it being added to additional states has occurred, it will be difficult making the program mandatory because of the hospital fears of litigation. Until then, many hospitals are waiting to see how the program goes and if it has any effect on the number of hospital errors occurring. For more information on hospital errors, please contact us. |
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