National Patient Safety Goals

This course covers the National Patient Safety Goals

Course includes a video and audio component with stand-alone exam

FAQ's

What Are the 7 National Patient Safety Goals? 

The National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) are set by The Joint Commission and vary depending on the specific healthcare setting (e.g., hospitals, ambulatory care, nursing care centers). For hospitals, the general NPSGs include: 

1. Identify Patients Correctly 

Ensure that patients are accurately identified using at least two identifiers before any care, treatment, or service is provided. For example, utilize the patient's name and birth date to guarantee that everyone receives the appropriate medication and care. 

2. Improve Staff Communication 

Promote timely and efficient communication among the right staff person, especially concerning critical test results. 

3. Use Medicines Safely 

Emphasize correct labeling on all medicines, containers, and solutions, carefully document prescribed medication, and add precautions for blood-thinning medications. 

Determine the drugs a patient is currently taking and cross-check them with any new prescriptions provided.  Provide patients with written details about their prescribed drugs, ensuring they are aware of which ones to continue at home. Advise patients to always carry a current list of their medications during doctor visits. 

4. Use Alarms Safely 

Ensure that medical equipment alarms are heard and responded to promptly.

5. Prevent Infection 

Follow established guidelines for hand hygiene and infection prevention from authoritative bodies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

6. Identify Patient Safety Risks 

Assess and address patient risks, particularly related to self-harm and suicide. Minimize the potential for suicide by assessing the environment to pinpoint elements that might facilitate suicide attempts. 

For patients with a heightened risk of suicide, implement protective measures. These might include continuous individual monitoring, removing items that could be used for self-harm, inspecting objects visitors bring into the room, and employing secure transport methods when transferring patients within the hospital. 

7. Prevent Mistakes in Surgery 

Implement procedures to confirm the correct surgical site, procedure, and patient, with a final check before surgery begins. The Universal Protocol for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure, and Wrong Person Surgery™ aims to prevent errors related to performing surgery on the wrong site, conducting the wrong procedure, or operating on the wrong person. 

It applies to all surgeries and non-surgical invasive procedures, guaranteeing that the right operation is performed on the right individual and at the proper site on their body. Always mark the intended surgical site on the patient. Before beginning the procedure, take a moment to ensure no errors are being made.

What Are National Patient Safety Goals Based On? 

National Patient Safety Goals are objectives and guidelines customized for seven distinct healthcare institutions, based on patient safety insights provided by experts and stakeholders. 

What Is the Purpose of the National Patient Safety Goals? 

National Patient Safety Goals was founded to raise the standard of care in the medical industry. The main purposes of the NPSGs are: 

• Prioritize Patient Safety: To highlight and address specific high-priority patient safety issues that healthcare organizations face.
• Provide a Guided Framework: To offer healthcare organizations clear directives on actions and strategies to address common safety concerns.
• Promote Best Practices: To ensure that healthcare organizations use evidence-based best practices in their operations to prevent errors.
• Enhance Communication and Collaboration: To foster better communication both within healthcare teams and between providers and patients.
• Continuously Improve: By regularly updating the goals based on new data and research, NPSGs aim to ensure that healthcare organizations remain responsive to the ever-evolving landscape of patient safety challenges.