Medical Errors, Research Paper Example

Medical errors are those errors that should not happen. The occurrence of medical errors in healthcare facilities results, in injuries that are preventable. These errors affect the deliverance and quality of services provided by healthcare practitioners. These errors often associated with high financial costs, which in the end culminate into higher costs of health care delivery. Medical errors also affect the confidence and trust the public has on the medical practitioners and the preference for medical care.

It becomes necessary to identify, correct, or prevent errors in order to reduce the results of these errors. The main goal in the identification of such errors is the proper understanding of the surroundings including the patient, other medical personnel, policies, and procedures applicable in a given circumstance (Jenicek, 2010). The errors should also be reported to the management of the health facility health facility in order to prevent future errors. The management should be in constant touch with the medical practitioners and patients to ensure prevention and detection of these errors. In order to make an improvement in the prevention of errors, the precautions taken must affect the practitioners reporting the errors. Negative punishments on those who report these errors tend to hinder the flow of information concerning the errors, and they cannot be corrected.

Kalra (2011) provides that safety is essential in healthcare provision, but where errors have occurred the healthcare providers, can prevent further errors by using these experiences. In this case, mixing new staff with the experienced ones goes a long way in prevention of these errors. It is necessary for all individuals involved in the provision of health care services to exercise a greater standard of care to prevent medical errors.

References

Jenicek M. (2010). Medical error and harm,understanding prevention and control. Taylor & Francis.

Kalra J. (2011). Medical Errors and Patient Safety: Strategies to Reduce and Disclose Medical Errors and Improve Patient Safety. Walter de Gruyter.