What’s New in the
Patient Safety World
December 2018
Joint Commission
Ambulatory NPSG’s for 2019
The Joint Commission recently released its Ambulatory NPSG’s (National Patient Safety Goals) for 2019 (TJC 2018a). These become effective January 1, 2019. They are listed below:
Identify Patients Correctly
· Use at least two ways to identify patients.
For example, use the patient’s name and date of birth. This is done to make
sure that each patient gets the correct medicine and treatment. (NPSG.01.01.01)
· Make sure that the correct patient gets the
correct blood when they get a blood transfusion. (NPSG.01.03.01)
Use medicines safely
· Before a procedure, label medicines that are not
labeled. For example, medicines in syringes, cups and basins. Do this in the
area where medicines and supplies are set up. (NPSG.03.04.01)
· Take extra care with patients who take
medicines to thin their blood. (NPSG.03.05.01)
· Record and pass along correct information
about a patient’s medicines. Find out what medicines the patient is taking.
Compare those medicines to new medicines given to the patient. Make sure the
patient knows which medicines to take when they are at home. Tell the patient
it is important to bring their up-to-date list of medicines every time they
visit a doctor. (NPSG.03.06.01)
Prevent infection
· Use the hand cleaning guidelines from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.
Set goals for improving hand cleaning. Use the goals to improve hand cleaning.
(NPSG.07.01.01)
· Use proven guidelines to prevent infection
after surgery. (NPSG.07.05.01)
Prevent mistakes in surgery
· Make sure that the correct surgery is done on
the correct patient and at the correct place on the patient’s body.
(UP.01.01.01)
· Mark the correct place on the patient’s body
where the surgery is to be done. (UP.01.02.01)
· Pause before the surgery to make sure that a
mistake is not being made. (UP.01.03.01)
Details with the elements of performance are included in the full chapter (TJC 2018b).
References:
The Joint Commission . Ambulatory Health Care National Patient Safety Goals. October 16, 2018
https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/2019_AHC_NPSGs_final.pdf
The Joint Commission . Ambulatory Health Care National Patient Safety Goals (chapter with elements of performance detailed). October 16, 2018
https://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/NPSG_Chapter_AHC_Jan2019.pdf
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