Massachusetts emergency departments perform well in national safety and quality rankings, but front-line providers say they can do more to eliminate the risk of patient harm, according to a new report from the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety.
Three medical organizations collaborated on the report:
- The Massachusetts College of Emergency Physicians
- The Massachusetts Emergency Nurses Association
- Massachusetts Association of Physician Assistants
The report includes observations and recommendations from a 14-member expert panel of emergency department stakeholders — including physicians, administrators and patients — on practical steps hospitals can take to mitigate risks of harm.
The expert panel highlighted three main areas for hospitals to address:
- ED crowding
- Cognitive overload
- Care coordination
The panel offers recommendations and strategies to limit the risk of adverse events associated with each area. The report also includes more than 25 case studies that outline how hospitals in Massachusetts have implemented new safety strategies.
To view the full report, click here.
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