Hospitals can keep both their patients and their medical staff safe by taking the right precautions. Following the proper safety protocol can decrease the chances of medical complications and other accidents, which may result in medical malpractice lawsuits being filed. Here are a few things that hospitals can do to keep patients and health care personnel safe.
Keep All Areas Sanitized
Hospitals are often hotbeds for bacteria strains like Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus, and these bugs can largely be eradicated by sanitizing all areas of the hospital. These types of bacteria can leave patients with serious infections that may exacerbate their already existing health problems. All equipment should be thoroughly sterilized by hospital personnel before using it on patients. Drug-resistant superbugs have also been known to come from hospital sinks that are not thoroughly cleaned and can splash out onto counters. NCBI.com also notes that harmful germs often cling to nurses’ uniforms, so all health care providers should wash their garments regularly to avoid spreading illnesses to their patients.
Protect Confidential Patient Information
Personal details about patients can fall into the wrong hands and be used against them if the information is not kept adequately protected. Test results, health history and contact details are sometimes stolen by hackers. Computers that store patient data should be updated regularly with the latest antivirus and spyware protection. Information should only be shared with trustworthy parties when it is absolutely necessary. All paper records should be filed in areas that are kept off limits to the general public.
Train Staff on Equipment Use
Even though medical personnel learn how to use a lot of medical equipment in school, they still may be unfamiliar with some of the latest devices. It is important for hospitals to implement training on all medical equipment so that health care staff can properly administer treatment. Staff should also go through practice drills on a regular basis to demonstrate their knowledge of each piece of equipment. New training sessions will be needed for all new pieces of equipment that come into a hospital. Learning how to use dependable electric laboratory mixers is especially important so that chemicals can be mixed correctly in the lab.
Make Patient Lifting Safer for Staff
Patients sometimes collapse in hospital rooms and hallways at the least expected times, and medical staff often need to lift them onto beds or stretchers. Lifting patients has been known to cause serious back, neck, shoulder and leg injuries for hospital personnel. This is especially problematic when medical staff need to lift larger patients. Some hospitals have been using patient lifting machinery that resembles a motorized hoist to lift patients. Medical facilities can further reduce staff injury risks by providing instructions on how to use the correct posture when lifting patients.
Hospitals are meant to be safe for everyone, and lowering the changes of problems for patients and staff can help keep their well-being protected. By following the proper safety protocol, everyone can stay out of harm’s way.