Preventing Surgical Site Infections
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) formed its no-pay policy based on the growing work of National Quality Forum (NQF) of “never events.” Meaning, CMS will no longer pay for certain conditions that result from what might be termed poor practice or events that should never have occurred while a patient was under the care of a healthcare professional.
- Discuss specific examples of “never events” and their impact in your workplace.
- What issues are you considering for your clinical project and why?
“Never events” are serious, preventable medical errors that should never occur in a healthcare setting. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented its no-pay policy to reduce these incidents and improve patient safety. Below are examples of “never events” and their impact:
1. Surgical Errors (e.g., Wrong-Site Surgery)
- Description: This occurs when a surgeon performs an operation on the wrong site, wrong patient, or wrong procedure.
- Impact: Such errors can cause significant harm to patients, including unnecessary complications, prolonged recovery, and psychological distress. The hospital may face reputational damage, legal costs, and loss of trust from patients and families.
- Workplace Impact: In a clinical setting, implementing robust protocols (e.g., pre-operative verification checklists) and ensuring proper patient identification can help minimize the occurrence of these errors.
2. Patient Falls
- Description: Falls during hospitalization can lead to injuries, including fractures, head trauma, and prolonged recovery…
“Never events” are serious, preventable medical errors that should never occur in a healthcare setting. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented its no-pay policy to reduce these incidents and improve patient safety. Below are examples of “never events” and their impact:
1. Surgical Errors (e.g., Wrong-Site Surgery)
- Description: This occurs when a surgeon performs an operation on the wrong site, wrong patient, or wrong procedure.
- Impact: Such errors can cause significant harm to patients, including unnecessary complications, prolonged recovery, and psychological distress. The hospital may face reputational damage, legal costs, and loss of trust from patients and families.
- Workplace Impact: In a clinical setting, implementing robust protocols (e.g., pre-operative verification checklists) and ensuring proper patient identification can help minimize the occurrence of these errors.
2. Patient Falls
- Description: Falls during hospitalization can lead to injuries, including fractures, head trauma, and prolonged recovery… Preventing Surgical Site Infections
