On Monday, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released an online toolkit to assist hospital leaders and clinicians in communicating with patients in a direct and open way after the occurrence of error.
Approximately 10 percent of patients are harmed by care they receive, according to an AHRQ release. Communicating effectively with a patient after such an incident can prove difficult. The difficulty can spur confusion in the patient and the patient's family, leading to them to potentially seek legal recourse.
"Medical harm can impact patients twice — first by the harm itself, and then by the wall of silence that can follow," said AHRQ Director Andy Bindman, MD. "This toolkit helps foster honest and transparent communication in an effort to rebuild trust and support safer care for patients."
The toolkit is called CANDOR and it includes facilitator notes, slides and online video content to help facilitate communication with patients after they've experienced an error. The kit is customizable and free of charge.
"Every day in American hospitals, countless doctors, nurses and other caregivers perform miracles for patients. And while one incident is one too many, sometimes errors occur," said Richard J. Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association. "This toolkit helps everyone involved — patients, families, clinicians and administrators — discuss what happened, agree on a resolution and make care safer in the long run."
Click here to access the toolkit.
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