By Susan Wakarugi
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 17 – Every year, on September 17th, the world comes together to celebrate World Patient Safety Day, a day dedicated to recognizing the pivotal role patients, families, and caregivers play in ensuring the safety of healthcare.
This year’s theme, “Engaging patients for patient safety,” underscores the importance of actively involving patients in their healthcare journey.
At The Nairobi West Hospital in Kenya, we wholeheartedly embrace this theme and firmly believe that patient engagement is not just a slogan but a fundamental principle that guides our approach to healthcare.
World Patient Safety Day, started by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to raise global awareness of the need for active patient engagement at all levels of healthcare to improve patient safety.
It is an occasion to engage policy-makers, healthcare leaders, healthcare workers, patients’ organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders in the collective effort to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm.
The Nairobi West Hospital is proud to be a part of this global movement, where we actively empower patients and families to be involved in their own healthcare and advocate for urgent action on patient and family engagement.
Effective communication between patients and healthcare providers is paramount in ensuring patient safety.
However, challenges persist in this regard. Patients often face interruptions within seconds of sharing their medical history, and a significant percentage of diagnostic errors can be attributed to miscommunication.
In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven healthcare environment, these communication hurdles are exacerbated.
At The Nairobi West Hospital, we recognize the critical importance of addressing these issues. We prioritize patient-provider communication by creating an environment that encourages active patient participation. Patients are not passive recipients of care; they are partners in their healthcare journey.
When patients are engaged as active partners, it leads to tangible improvements in safety, patient satisfaction, and overall healthcare quality.
Here are some of the ways in which The Nairobi West Hospital ensures patient safety and promotes patient engagement:
- 1.Medication Safety: Medication errors can have serious consequences. To mitigate this risk, The Nairobi West Hospital has established stringent protocols for medication safety. This includes double-checking prescriptions, verifying correct dosages, and educating patients about their medications. Our dedicated pharmacists play a crucial role in this process.
- 2.Quality Assurance and Reporting: We maintain dedicated quality assurance teams that continuously monitor and assess the quality of care provided at our hospital. We encourage our staff to report adverse events or near-misses promptly. By doing so, we create a culture of transparency, learning, and improvement, which helps prevent future incidents.
- 3.Infection Control: Infection control is a top priority. We implement strict measures to prevent the spread of infections within our facility. This includes rigorous hand hygiene practices, thorough sterilization of equipment, and isolation protocols for contagious patients. Our commitment to infection control helps protect both patients and healthcare workers.
- 4.Training and Education: We provide CMEs(continuous Medical Education) to our healthcare staff. Our rigorous training programs cover infection control, proper medication administration, and adherence to safety protocols. Well-trained staff are more likely to provide safe and effective care, and we invest heavily in their continuous development.
- 5.Patient Identification: Patient safety begins with accurate patient identification. We utilize advanced systems and technologies to ensure the correct identification of patients. Wristbands with patient information, along with cross-checking patient details before procedures, are standard practices to prevent errors in treatment or medication administration.
Patient safety is not just a slogan at The Nairobi West Hospital; it is a core value deeply ingrained in our approach to healthcare. On this World Patient Safety Day, we invite everyone to join us in elevating the voice of patients and advocating for their active engagement in healthcare. Together, we can work towards a future where patient safety is paramount, and patients are true partners in their care.
In conclusion, World Patient Safety Day serves as a reminder of the critical role patients and their families play in healthcare safety.
The Nairobi West Hospital is committed to empowering patients and actively involving them in their healthcare journey. Through rigorous training, infection control measures, accurate patient identification, medication safety protocols, and a strong commitment to quality assurance, we strive to provide the highest standard of patient care.
As we celebrate World Patient Safety Day, let us all work together to prioritize patient safety and ensure that every patient’s voice is heard and valued.
The writer is Chief Nursing Officer at the the Nairobi West Hospital