In this section :
- Hospital harm is everyone’s concern
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Hospital Harm Improvement Resource
- How to Use the Hospital Harm Measure for Improvement
- Learning from Harm
- General Patient Safety Quality Improvement and Measurement Resources
- Hypoglycemia: Introduction
- Aspiration Pneumonia: Introduction
- Delirium: Introduction
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Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Introduction
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Measures
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Success Stories
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: References
- Medication Incidents: Introduction
- Obstetric Hemorrhage: Introduction
- Patient Trauma: Introduction
- Pneumonia: Introduction
- Pneumothorax: Introduction
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Post Procedural Infections: Introduction
- Post Procedural Infections: Discharge Abstract Database
- Post Procedural Infections: Importance to Patients and Families
- Post Procedural Infections: Clinical and Systems Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Post Procedural Infections: Measures
- Post Procedural Infections: Success Stories
- Post Procedural Infections: References
- Pressure Ulcer: Introduction
- Sepsis: Introduction
- UTI: Introduction
- Venous Thromboembolism: Introduction
- Wound Disruption: Introduction
- Obstetric Trauma: Introduction
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Procedure-Associated Shock: Introduction
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Discharge Abstract Database
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Importance to Patients and Families
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Clinical and System Review, Incident Analysis
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Measures
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Success Stories
- Procedure-Associated Shock: References
- Selected Serious Events: Introduction
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Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Introduction
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Discharge Abstract Database
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Importance to Patients and Families
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Measures
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Success Stories
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: References
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Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): References
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Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): References
- Birth Trauma: Introduction
- Device Failure: Introduction
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Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Introduction
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Measures
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Success Stories
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: References
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Laceration: Introduction
- Laceration: Discharge Abstract Database
- Laceration: Importance to Patients and Families
- Laceration: Clinical and System Review Incident Analyses
- Laceration: Measures
- Laceration: Success Stories
- Laceration: References
- Retained Foreign Body: Introduction
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Viral Gastroenteritis: Introduction
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Discharge Abstract Database
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Importance to Patients and Families
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Measures
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Success Stories
- Viral Gastroenteritis: References
Laceration: Importance to Patients and Families
Unintentional punctures or lacerations during surgical or medical procedures may cause unintended injuries or death. With appropriate interventions and appropriate reporting and related learning, such incidents may be reduced or prevented. Effective communication with patients and their families, including disclosure discussions when injuries occur is an important aspect of improvement efforts for safer surgical care (Lefebvre et al., 2018).
Patient Stories
Felecia Gerardi: No one would listen!!
Connecticut Center for Patient Safety
"…following a routine laparoscopic hysterectomy, I knew there was a problem. A very disgusting odor discharge was coming out my body. No tests were ordered and I was catheterized three days after the initial surgery. Dr McDonnell who performed my surgery knew that I was still in the hospital but didn't come to see me till Tuesday. She called in a Urologist who discovered I had a severed right ureter. I was brought to the O.R. opened up he discovered pus pockets in my abdomen. I could not be repaired at this time so he had a tube placed in my right kidney to drain the urine.
I was getting sicker and sicker. I kept asking why am I still leaking stuff and why is it green? Could I have an intestinal leak? My doctor and others brought in on my case treated me as if I were crazy. Finally eight or nine days later when I tried to eat a piece of food it came out clumpy green stuff. I insisted on being tested; looked like feces to me. Only then did they test me and I was right - there were two holes in my small intestine.
I was in the fight for my life. What was supposed to be a one-day surgery had become 30 days hospitalized; tubes, and bags for five months and several more repair surgeries were required. I still have chronic pain from a large piece of mesh that had to be put into my abdomen from developing a surgical hernia, and I have a lot of fear of ending up back in the hospital. I've already been back for an obstruction in my bowel because of scar tissue from all my repair surgeries which can happen again. This experience has given me a determination to work for patients' voices to be heard!!" (Connecticut Center for Patient Safety, n.d.).
Laceration
