Hospitals Share Strategies for Preventing Errors, Research Paper Example

Introduction

In modern healthcare systems, it is evident that there is a high level of risk associated with patient care, yet it is necessary to administer care and treatment as best as possible to avoid complications and other issues. However, medical errors are a common occurrence that must be addressed closely in order to determine how to minimize their consequences over time. Medical errors take place in many different areas of healthcare practice, from administering medications to patients, to errors in data entry, to improperly administered medical procedures, as well as many areas in between. Medical errors may also occur under a variety of different circumstances and environments. Nonetheless, these errors must be evaluated closely and issues regarding patient safety must be considered at all times. Medical professionals must make many different choices within the practice environment; therefore, they require a high level of knowledge and skill in many technical areas, as well as knowledge that will drive their roles effectively.

Healthcare workers must be attentive to the needs of their patients and provide them with an environment that is error-free and appropriate in achieving their needs effectively. These efforts also require a high level of support and guidance from managers and leaders in order to minimize the risk of errors and other complications that may occur. These factors play a critical role in shaping healthcare outcomes and the quality of care that patients receive in different healthcare settings. The following discussion will address the role of medical errors in healthcare practice and will consider the different challenges that have emerged in recent years regarding these events and how they impact quality of care for many patients. Specifically, the incidence of medical errors at hospitals in New York City will serve as the primary focus of this discussion and will emphasize the critical need to identify the scope of this problem, to address deficiencies, and to develop effective solutions to improve patient care.

Background

Medical errors create potential hazards for patients and must be identified as early as possible in order to prevent further risk or harm. These factors impact how patients are treated in healthcare situations and require a high level of scrutiny in order to alleviate problems that may occur in this process. The process of recognizing medical errors is complex, but it is important to address these concerns and to address areas where perhaps training is weak or other factors contribute to the exacerbation of this problem. One of the most critical challenges associated with medical errors is limited or poor communication, whereby the following is often observed: “Communication errors are considered the most common cause of medical errors and should be largely preventable by well-designed procedural policies and good execution. Professional communication among health-care providers is a complex topic that is analogous to critical communications, as practiced by other high-risk professions” (Murphy & Dunn, 2010, p. 1293). This framework requires a greater understanding of the issues that are most affected by poor communication within the work environment and how this impacts patient care in different ways (Murphy & Dunn, 2010).

Organizations that do not effectively communicate regarding changes in procedures or other actions that involve the risk of medical errors may contribute to negative outcomes and other challenges that could impact patient care. It is imperative to consider some of these issues and to recognize the importance of communicating effectively to reduce the incidence of medical errors that are committed by healthcare professionals. These efforts require a commitment from employees to share information in a manner that will minimize the risk of errors and be mindful of the challenges of providing healthcare in a manner that is consistent with the practice environment. Through active communication in the workplace, it is possible to explore new ideas that will encourage employees to be proactive in meeting the needs of their patients that do not involve a higher risk of medical errors.

Educating employees regarding the risks associated with medical errors requires a new understanding of the issues that are likely to be prevalent in order to ensure that patient care outcomes are optimized and new ideas are effective in meeting the needs of patients on a continuous basis. One area that must be considered is the ability to disclose medical errors effectively and to be cognizant of the appropriate processes that are required to achieve this goal (White et.al, 2011). Therefore, adequate training is required in order to ensure that those within the medical profession, including physician trainees and newer physicians, receive the knowledge and resources that are necessary to know when to report medical errors and how to address them in a larger context that will be helpful to the practice environment and to other physicians (White et.al, 2011). Furthermore, the process of disclosing errors requires a high level of support and guidance from the organization and those who provide the training so that they are effectively prepared with a strategy to minimize errors and to achieve effective outcomes for patients (White et.al, 2011). Adequate training is a critical factor in this process and demonstrates the importance of working in collaboration with others, rather than working against each other, as they share the same goals and objectives to support patients and to provide them with high quality care and treatment to meet their needs (White et.al, 2011).

A number of research studies have been established that examine a number of criteria that are associated with medical errors in clinics. A study by Khoo et.al (2012) in BMC Family Practice examines how medical errors impact primary care, using a cross-sectional approach in order to determine the extent to which medical errors impact patient care and wellbeing in different ways. To be specific, “A review of 11 studies conducted in primary care settings found that the rates of medical errors ranged between 5 and 80 errors per 100,000 visits. The most common errors were those related to delayed or missed diagnoses, followed by treatment errors” (Khoo et.al, 2012). Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate these conditions and to examine how to overcome these problems effectively and to determine how to minimize the incidence of medical errors as best as possible, given the issues that are likely to occur that may contribute to these errors to begin with (Khoo et.al, 2012). In primary care and other settings, it is essential to create an environment in which medical errors are extremely rare, as it is not practical to believe that they will disappear altogether (Khoo et.al, 2012). Nonetheless, it is important to identify resources that will be utilized to ensure that medical errors are not the norm within primary care facilities (Khoo et.al, 2012).

Rogers (2011) supports the commonly held belief that the responsibility for medical errors must be shared among employees within a given healthcare organization. Furthermore, this concept requires employees to be proactive and to recognize the value of advocacy in this area in order to overcome these deficits (Rogers, 2011). When medical errors are very serious in nature, there is a greater risk of serious illness or injury that may not be reversible; therefore, it is important to identify the different factors that contribute to this process and address the possible solutions or recommendations that may be effective in supporting the needs of patients, while also considering how to minimize errors and to perform all duties with strict focus and concentration in order to achieve effective outcomes for patients and for healthcare workers (Rogers, 2011). A root cause analysis is one method of understanding medical errors more effectively and in determining how to best approach this issue with a different type of perspective that is likely to improve patient care quality and to address deficits in care and treatment as early as possible to prevent long-term complications (Rogers, 2011). This process also demonstrates the need for all parties to contribute to improvements that will minimize medical errors and to recognize the value of risk assessments in order to determine how medical errors might be better controlled (Rogers, 2011).

Organizations must consider the impact of tools and mechanisms such as decision support systems in aiming to improve patient safety and to reduce the incidence of medical errors throughout healthcare organizations (Jao & Hier, 2010). These concerns are highly relevant and timely because they have a significant impact on patient care and the outcomes that are associated with the administration of care and treatment by healthcare providers (Jao & Hier, 2010). Prior statistics demonstrate that medical errors account for up to 100,000 deaths per year in the United States and are classified as the eighth leading cause of death (Jao & Hier, 2010). It is also known that “approximately 1.16 million patient safety incidents occurred in over 40 million hospitalizations for the Medicare population yielding a three-percent incident rate. These incidents were associated with $8.6 billion of excessive costs during 2003 through 2005” (Jao & Hier, 2010). Therefore, it is evident that medical errors are not a simple fix and require a comprehensive approach that might be effective in addressing patient care needs (Jao & Hier, 2010). As a result, a clinical decision support system is an essential contributor in an attempt to minimize medical errors because it captures relevant clinical data, acquires important clinical knowledge, and enables individuals to solve problems in a successful manner in order to prevent or minimize medical errors from taking place (Jao & Hier, 2010). These factors require a high level understanding of the issues that impact patient care and the developments that are required to ensure that patients receive the best possible care through wise and appropriate decision-making within different clinical areas that will have a positive impact on patient outcomes and on new methods of workflow to accommodate patient needs effectively (Jao & Hier, 2010). A clinical decision support system also demonstrates a high level of efficiency that will aim to minimize costs within organization and addresses many of the needs of patients through an organized and detailed approach to care and treatment (Jao & Hier, 2010). Finally, the interface of a clinical decision support system must be appropriate and must provide a basis for exploring different ideas that will facilitate efficiency in generating and evaluating clinical data in different ways (Jao & Hier, 2010).

The implementation of electronic health records in many organizations must be examined more closely because it provides a unique approach to data gathering and other factors that impact patient care quality (Shneiderman, 2011). It should be noted that many medical errors go undiscovered and that there is not ways an organized system available to address these errors in an effective manner (Shneiderman, 2011). This process requires an understanding of the structure of electronic medical records and how this might support the development of a system to improve the tracking of medical errors and to recognize the importance of these systems in advancing the success of the practice environment (Scheiderman, 2011). It is perhaps most important to address how electronic medical records contribute to effective outcomes for patients (Schneiderman, 2011).

Many physicians and surgeons experience the effects of burnout within their fields, thereby increasing the risk for medical errors in some cases (Shanafelt et.al, 2009). From this perspective, it may be argued that patient safety is not always the key priority for some surgeons if they experience burnout, particularly since their focus is somewhat altered and they may no longer perform at a top level (Shanafelt et.al, 2009). In this context, it is observed that surgeons may commit grievances that either directly or indirectly impact the health of their patients, depending on the severity of the action; some notable examples include incorrect medications, diagnostic errors, and misidentification of patients, which may lead to unnecessary surgery for some patients (Shanafelt et.al, 2009). These findings suggest that surgeons must be focused on their patients above all else and that if they do not properly focus on these objectives, there is a greater potential to commit errors that could have lasting consequences (Shanafelt et.al, 2009).

An article by Henneman et.al (2012) addresses the importance of barcode verification methods that aim to minimize errors and to reduce patient misidentification within healthcare practice. It is evident that successful medication administration requires a high level understanding of the process and its various complexities in order to determine the best possible method of achieving effective patient outcomes (Henneman et.al, 2012). Patient identity (VPtID) must be correctly matched to medication orders (VMed), and this requires a successful strategy to minimize complications in this area (Henneman et.al, 2012). It is known that “Bar-code verification technology in conjunction with computer provider order entry and an electronic medication administration system (eMAS) has been introduced to reduce certain medication administration errors, in particular those related to incorrect patient ID and/or medication” (Henneman et.al, 2012, p. 562). Therefore, this practice must be effective in reducing medication errors on a more consistent basis in order to improve patient quality of care (Henneman et.al, 2012). Nonetheless, there remains a potential risk of visual misinterpretation at the nursing level, thereby increasing the risk of committing an error that could have an impact on patient care quality and overall health (Henneman et.al, 2012). In some cases, nurses must manage several patients at once and may unknowingly misinterpret or confuse them to the extent that they impact patient outcomes in different ways, some of which could compromise their health and wellbeing (Henneman et.al, 2012). Nurses, therefore, must be provided with the appropriate training with a barcode medication system and be able to recognize patterns that may impact their activities in different ways (Henneman et.al, 2012).

In a similar context, it is important to recognize the need for comprehensive approaches to address medical errors, particularly those that are directly associated with medication dispensation techniques (Llewellyn, Gordon, & Reed, 2011). To be specific, errors in administering anesthesia are very complex in nature and may pose a risk that could lead to death in some cases (Llewellyn et.al, 2011). In this context, anesthetists must be prepared to manage these risks and to identify methods that will minimize errors, using the tools and resources that are available (Llewellyn et.al, 2011). It is believed that anesthetists with longer periods of service in the field have a greater tendency to commit medical errors, given the responsibilities of the field and the position itself (Llewellyn et.al, 2011). As a result, it is important for organizations to be cognizant of strategies that may recognize the role of anesthetists and how they impact patient care, and how the administration of anesthesia is a challenging and complex issue that requires ongoing consideration (Llewellyn et.al, 2011).

Data and Results of Research

An article by Kirby, Dasgupta, & Beacock (2010) considered the significance of medical errors in the United Kingdom, the following statistics prevail: “Almost 4000 patients treated by the NHS in England died last year following ‘safety incidents’ in which some aspect of their care went wrong. A further 7500 patients suffered severe harm as a result of accidents or botched treatment…over the year 11 054 patients died or suffered harm as a result of medical errors, a rate of almost 1000 a month” (Kirby et.al, 2010, p. 39). These concerns require organizations to examine their options with respect to developing strategies for growth and to be aware of the different issues that are likely to contribute to the overall direction of the practice environment to facilitate positive change and to reduce these statistics significantly (Kirby et.al, 2010).

It is important for organizations within the healthcare system to be cognizant of the nature and extent of medical errors within their own environments, as the reality of the situation may be a critical factor in shaping outcomes and in determining how to best move forward to improve health and wellbeing for patients who are treated at these facilities. Therefore, medical errors must be properly categorized and classified as a means of reducing their incidence, accompanied by other changes that may have a significant impact on patient care outcomes (Ramadan & Al-Saleh, 2013). Reducing the risk and reality of medical errors is difficult and is not solved in a single step; however, classification of these errors is critical in understanding where changes might be necessary and how to overcome these risks in different ways (Ramadan & Al-Saleh, 2013). Classifying specific instances of medical errors is an important step in the discovery of new methods that use decision rules in order to accomplish the desired objectives in an effective manner (Ramadan & Al-Saley, 2013). To be specific, the system would operate as follows: “In the event that two rules match a given problem situation, the system will employ a conflict resolution strategy to best resolve the tie based on the specified decision rules” (Ramadan & Al-Saley, 2013, p. 31). In this context, it is observed that organizations will be proactive in developing systems that will best accommodate the need to achieve maximum patient care quality at all times, and this must be facilitated by a direct connection to system-based approaches to improve quality and to minimize errors whenever possible (Ramadan & Al-Saley, 2013). This process also encourages the development of other strategies to improve decision-making capabilities that will address medical errors on a continuous basis to ensure that they do not compromise patient health (Ramadan & Al-Saley, 2013).

The Nature of Medical Errors in NYC Hospitals

Medical errors may occur for a variety of reasons, some of which are directly related to a method or procedure, and others which are directly related to individual performance and personal challenges (Kirby et.al, 2010). Therefore, it is necessary to develop strategies that will encompass new directions in addressing such critical factors as stress, awareness of the situation, the perception of risk, and other needs that will consider the opportunities that are available to support effective patient care quality and improved outcomes for patients (Kirby et.al, 2010). These issues are common across all hospitals, including those located in New York City; therefore, it is important to address these issues as early as possible and to discuss opportunities to promote change within the work environment in order to accommodate patients more effectively (Kirby et.al, 2010). Organizations must be able to evaluate their employees and to determine when changes are required that may minimize the risk of medical errors in some cases, along with other criteria that must be met in order to accommodate patient needs more effectively (Kirby et.al, 2010).

Data Regarding Trends, Prevalence, and Impact on Patients and Communities

Medical errors are a common phenomenon across all healthcare organizations; however, the extent of their impact is not entirely known. Nonetheless, their level of occurrence and their impact on patients must be fully realized in the context of healthcare practice (Koch & Weiss, 2012).         Most importantly, medical errors that impact patient care must be addressed with the patient and/or his or her family in a timely manner, using open communication to address these concerns (Koch & Weiss, 2012). From this perspective, it may be argued that healthcare professionals must share information regarding adverse events and other issues in accordance with all required regulations and procedures; however, there is a level of responsibility to patients and their families that must also be taken into consideration as part of this process because it provides full disclosure regarding the actions that have occurred (Koch & Weiss, 2012). This process encourages the development of factors that are associated with disclosure and its importance to medical practice, particularly when medical errors have taken place, as healthcare providers have a responsibility to their patients to be truthful and accurate in the information that they provide to them (Koch & Weiss, 2012). This process encourages the development of new methods that might be used to address other concerns that patients face in the healthcare setting and if their health is compromised in any way as a result of one or more medical errors (Koch & Weiss, 2012). Similarly, medical errors are ultimately committed against patients, who often suffer the consequences, but at the same time, those who commit these errors must also suffer in the context of their professional careers (Stangierski et.al, 2012). Medical errors contribute to significant levels of stress among healthcare providers, as there is often a high level of guilt and frustration with these events, including why they have occurred and how they impact patients (Stangierski et.al, 2012). Therefore, it is important to address these concerns as part of any discussion involving medical errors and to be aware of the changes that are required to improve outcomes related to these events (Stangierski et.al, 2012).

Medical errors contribute to increased costs associated with such factors as extended care related to these events (David et.al, 2013). Therefore, it is necessary to consider how these costs contribute to negative patient outcomes and how other factors must be considered as medical errors are identified within the healthcare setting (David et.al, 2013). In addition, medical error costs involve a complex set of circumstances that must consider how hospitals respond to errors and the steps that are taken to address these instances and to minimize them in the future (David et.al, 2013). The following chart describes the number and cost of medical errors in the United States in 2008 and 2009, and the second chart describes the most common and most expensive types of medical errors in hospitals (David et.al, 2013):

These charts provide a visual representation of the issues that are most relevant for hospitals in regards to medical errors and how they lead to excessive costs in many cases that are very difficult to maintain (David et.al, 2013). Due to the excessive nature of medical errors in the United States, additional measures must be taken that will accomplish new objectives to minimize these errors and to alleviate some of the cost burden that is associated with these errors (David et.al, 2013). The costs associated with medical errors and the most common types of errors must be addressed more closely in order to identify methods that may alleviate some of these costs and minimize some of the errors that occur in these settings (David et.al, 2013).

The economic challenges of medical errors are well known, and they contribute to significant cost burdens in many healthcare facilities (Andel et.al, 2012). Therefore, it is important to identify some of the issues that are prevalent and to determine how to best manage these incidents to achieve greater cost savings (Andel et.al, 2012). The financial implications of patient care are significant, particularly when they are impacted by a variety of issues that also impact patient safety (Andel et.al, 2012). Due to the nature and frequency of medical errors, the costs of healthcare continue to remain high and difficult to manage, and they require a higher level understanding of their impact on the bottom line so that this is part of any conversation regarding patient care quality and patient safety with healthcare workers (Andel et.al, 2012). This process also requires organizations to be proactive in discussing how these costs impact other types of resources and may ultimately reduce staffing and other needs over the long term (Andel et.al, 2012). This process supports a greater understanding of the costs of medical errors and how they impact quality of care, levels of staffing, the resources that are available, and other factors that have a direct impact on patient care quality, employee morale and focus, and other areas of concern (Andel et.al, 2012).

Core Reasons Why Errors Occur

Organizations must examine strategies that are likely to be effective in meeting patient needs and in minimizing errors as best as possible. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the conditions under which medical errors might be reduced, given the context of the organization and the practices that occur on a continuous basis. Strategies to combat medical errors should follow a specific path that requires healthcare providers to administer care and treatment in a consistent manner and to be aware of the risks that may contribute to medical errors (Yarmohammadian et.al, 2014). The following figure provides a summary of the different criteria that should be examined in order to address issues involving medical errors (Yarmohammadian et.al, 2014):

This figure provides a basis for examining the different steps related to reducing medical errors and in supporting high quality care and treatment at all times, using individual knowledge and experiences as learning tools in this process (Yarmohammadian et.al, 2014). It is important to consider these factors and to determine areas where medical errors might be a serious threat, along with individual opportunities to improve procedural actions and concentration so that patient care is not compromised (Yarmohammadian et.al, 2014).

Another approach to consider is the extent to which clinical documentation plays a role in medical errors, given the issues that may occur in this area (Schiff & Bates, 2010). In this context, clinical documentation requires a high level of detail and an approach that will satisfy the requirements of high quality patient care (Schiff & Bates, 2010). Although technology-based solutions are commonly implemented to support clinical documentation processes, they nonetheless are managed by human beings, which may contribute to a continued risk of human error (Schiff & Bates, 2010). Therefore, it is important to identify some of these factors and to recognize how to manage some of these issues more effectively with the intent to minimize errors as best as possible (Schiff & Bates, 2010). Clinical documentation systems must be available to ensure that healthcare professionals are able to enter data effectively and as accurately as possible, given the circumstances that are already in place (Schiff & Bates, 2010). Perhaps most important is a built-in feature of checks and balances in order to determine if all information is completed properly and to identify any missing information that could impact the documentation and its overall effectiveness (Schiff & Bates, 2010). This process also requires a high level understanding of clinical documentation systems and how they function so that healthcare providers are able to properly record data and demonstrate their knowledge in a cohesive and appropriate manner (Schiff & Bates, 2010).

Primary Approaches Used in NYC Hospitals

Hospitals in the New York City have made significant strides in recent years in order to combat the risks associated with medical errors, and this has created an environment in which there is a greater potential to improve outcomes and to be aware of the changes that may be necessary to improve patient outcomes on a continuous basis. For example, New-York Presbyterian Hospital has established a program known as DON’T MISS A THING, which is designed to facilitate electronic tracking so that any near misses, primarily in regards to medication dispensation issues, are addressed in a timely and efficient manner through pattern identification and potential improvements to accommodate these needs effectively (ABC News, 2006). This system supports the utilization of pattern tracking so that ongoing improvements that will have a significant impact on reducing the risk of errors will occur in these settings, particularly as medication errors are a high-risk series of events (ABC News, 2006).

Another strategy that is considered is to examine the risk of medication errors in pediatric departments that work with children, and specifically, children may not take their medications properly or at the correct dosages, which may contribute to serious problems that impact their ability to be effective in treating patients with the desired level of success (Doyle, 2014). A study conducted by Rinke et.al, a physician at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx evaluated existing studies in order to determine the potential impact of medication errors in children, as they contribute to 7,000 deaths annually, primarily due to incorrect dosages or prescribing an inappropriate drug (Doyle, 2014). The study determined that physicians who use preprinted prescription sheets are more likely to make fewer errors because they are more legible and easier to read, with a lower opportunity to make errors based on what is written, and this method reduced errors by 27 percent (Doyle, 2014). Furthermore, by prescribing medications for the home environment, there is a minimization of risk if liquid dosages are prescribed in milliliters, as this supports improved accuracy in dosing methods for parents who must administer medications to their children at home (Doyle, 2014).

Beth Israel Medical Center in New York was part of a study to examine ho\w hospitals emerge as high quality performers within the context of modern healthcare practices, given the challenges that occur (Silow-Carroll, Alteras, & Meyer, 2007). To be specific, four steps are required in order to ensure that performance issues that contribute to medical errors are identified as early as possible: 1) A trigger that occurs to “wake up” the hospital and to engage in quality improvement activities at a more sophisticated level; 2) Improvements in the organizational structure and other related changes, such as quality improvement councils, staff empowerment techniques, and new forms of technology and infrastructure; 3) The identification of a problem-solving approach, including but not limited to root cause analysis and a comprehensive action plan; 4) new types of protocols and practices to address clinical pathways and evidence-based practice solutions to existing problems; and 5) the creation of improved outcomes through process improvements and other techniques to ensure that patient care is optimized at all times (Silow-Carroll et.al, 2007). These factors provide a systemic approach to problem-solving that is likely to be effective in supporting the growth of the practice environment and in achieving greater cohesiveness within the environment to sustain new models to reduce the incidence of medication errors and other factors that impact patient care quality and wellbeing over the long term (Silow-Carroll et.al, 2007).

The New York State Department of Health, which governs the activities within New York City hospitals, established its own set of procedures to address the risk of potential errors related to blood transfusions, emphasizing critical areas such as matching the appropriate type of blood to each and every patient, an internally managed tracking system that may identify the different sources of human error, an effective identification system of patient and blood at the bedside, accurate labeling approaches at the phlebotomy stage, labeling strategies to improve identification methods, using automated procedures, keeping different blood units separate within the operating room setting to minimize risk, to develop and implement standard operative procedures, and to provide adequate training to all staff members in managing transfusion activities and blood products as effectively as possible. This is an important strategy because it governs the activities that are associated with achieving effective outcomes in patient care and in determining how to best move forward to ensure that these strategies are implemented and adhered to on a continuous basis (New York State Department of Health).

The Impact of Medical Errors in New York City

In the New York City area, it is important to identify areas where there is significant potential for improvements and to be fully aware of the changes that may be required to reduce medical errors in different ways. This is an important reminder that healthcare professionals are not perfect and that errors are made throughout daily life. Nonetheless, they must be able to demonstrate a high level of focus and an understanding of the different aspects of care and treatment that are likely to be effective in meeting the needs of patients without compromising their health and wellbeing. It is evident that hospitals in New York City must adhere to high quality standards of practice at all times, as this encourages their level of confidence in their staff and their ability to be effective in treating patients without high-risk complications. Nonetheless, this is not a simple feat and requires a comprehensive network of approaches that are designed to be effective in treating patients at a consistent level and for healthcare providers to be cognizant of the issues that are likely to contribute to achieving effective outcomes for patients without a high risk of errors. Healthcare providers must possess a high level of awareness and an understanding of the risks that are associated with the actions that they take with their patients, including the potential to commit errors. Therefore, a strong commitment to quality must be preserved in the healthcare environment and must provide a basis for examining other opportunities to achieve growth and change with the practice environment. Patient care depends on a high level of quality and an understanding of the challenges that are likely to impact patient outcomes; therefore, healthcare professionals must recognize the extent to which their actions impact patients and how they influence outcomes over the long term.

New York City residents expect high quality care and treatment in the many hospital locations that are available to them. Therefore, it is important to identify specific resources that will be effective contributors in supporting quality-based and performance initiatives within these settings to reduce errors effectively and continuously. All healthcare providers must work collaboratively as a means of addressing the potential risk of errors and to be aware of the challenges with this process, thereby encouraging the development of new perspectives that may have a significant impact on patient care outcomes over time. It is necessary to evaluate these conditions and to also be responsive to the needs of patients in New York City hospitals through collaborative efforts that go beyond individual locations. For example, in periods of crisis where many hospitals may be required to support a large number of patients, it is necessary for these organizations to be on the same page with respect to their activities and to be cognizant of their roles in supporting patients effectively. This process demonstrates a high level awareness of the need for collaboration and to recognize where individual systems may require modifications in order to minimize errors more effectively. It is believed that when these hospitals work in a collaborative manner, they will support a greater opportunity to promote quality and to stimulate behavior that will facilitate a high-quality response to patient needs. This process will aim to minimize errors and to be effective in treating patients without significant compromises to their quality of life. In addition, individual hospitals must adhere to all required state and federally mandated regulations in order to accomplish the desired treatment objectives in a consistent manner at all times.

Conclusion

Healthcare organizations must be cognizant and largely focused on the prevalence of medical errors that occur at the patient care level. This process presents many challenges because it requires individual employees to be fully aware of patient conditions, the surrounding environment, and other factors that impact patient care in different ways. Therefore, healthcare providers must be able to demonstrate a high level understanding of the issues that are most prevalent in this process and that serve as key contributors to flaws within the healthcare system. Unintentional errors are always likely to be a part of medical practice; however, they may be minimized through the activities that are conducted at the organizational level in order to improve quality of care. These factors must encourage employees to pay closer attention to their actions, to be aware of prior medical histories, to examine charting details, and to determine the best possible approaches to developing a system that will encourage growth and change within healthcare practice settings. This process must also enable organizations to provide training and education that will accommodate their needs and also support the growth of the practice environment to encourage high quality patient care and treatment with as few errors as possible. It is expected that with a comprehensive program in place, healthcare providers will be more effective in treating patients and in minimizing the risk of errors, particularly as they aim to support new activities within the hospital environment that require high levels of skill and a collaborative approach to achieving effective patient care quality and optimal safety at the highest possible level.

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