Collection of data is all well and good, but improvement in patient outcomes requires the ability to turn information into action. The AQI Practice Quality Improvement Committee (PQIC) will collect and present examples of this principle so that all of us can learn from those who are doing it well. Learn more about quality improvement at www.aqihq.org/quality.aspx.
Medication errors, health care-associated infections, dental injuries, difficult airways … where does the list of potential adverse patient events end? All of these issues and more are faced by health care providers and specifically anesthesia providers on an almost-daily basis. Anesthesia providers continue to be at the forefront of patient safety and the avoidance of adverse events, yet they still occur and require investigation for cause and future prevention. When considering how to improve patient safety and prevent adverse events, have we overcomplicated this continuous adventure?
Patient safety has been defined by...