Homecare | Nursing homework help
Patient safety is a crucial component of healthcare, and as technology shifts towards home care, it is vital to ensure that patients receive safe and effective care in their homes. The Joint Commission has identified five Patient Safety Goals (PSGs) for home care, which include the following:
- Identify patients correctly: It is essential to verify the patient’s identity and ensure that they receive the correct treatment, medication, and care. Nurses can ensure this goal is met by using two patient identifiers before administering any medication or providing care.
- Improve staff communication: Effective communication is crucial in healthcare. Nurses can ensure that staff communication is effective by using standardized communication methods, including the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) technique, to communicate patient information clearly.
- Use medicines safely: Medication errors can cause significant harm to patients, so it is essential to ensure that medication is administered safely. Nurses can ensure that medications are used safely by checking medication labels and verifying the correct medication, dose, and route of administration.
- Prevent infection: Infections can be easily spread in a home care setting. Nurses can prevent infections by practicing good hand hygiene, using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and educating patients and their families on infection prevention measures.
- Identify patient safety risks: Nurses can identify patient safety risks by conducting assessments and risk analyses. They can then implement interventions to mitigate these risks and ensure patient safety.
The shift to home care has been facilitated by advances in technology, and the use of technology in home care is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. According to a study by Liu et al. (2019), technology can help improve patient outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and increase patient satisfaction in home care. Technology such as telehealth, wearable devices, and remote monitoring can help nurses and other healthcare providers monitor patients and provide timely interventions, which can help prevent complications and adverse events.
The shift to home care will impact nursing practice by requiring nurses to be more independent and self-directed in their practice. Nurses will need to be knowledgeable about the technology used in home care and be able to use it effectively to monitor and care for patients. Nurses will also need to be proficient in communication methods to communicate effectively with patients and other healthcare providers remotely.
In conclusion, the five Patient Safety Goals identified by the Joint Commission for home care are essential for ensuring patient safety in the home care setting. The use of technology in home care has the potential to improve patient outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. However, nurses must be knowledgeable and proficient in the use of technology and communication methods to provide safe and effective care to patients in their homes.