Introducing The Patient Safety Handbook, providing
multiple perspectives on a patient-centered, systems approach to
patient safety
The Patient Safety Handbook Editors: Barbara J. Youngberg, JD, BSN, MSW,
Vice President, University HealthSystem Consortium, Inc. & Martin
J. Hatlie, JD, President, Partnership for Patient Safety
The Patient Safety Handbook
is a remarkable resource for students of patient safety. Eloquently
introduced by Mildred K. Lehman, mother of Boston Globe Reporter
Betsy Lehman, who died as the result of a systems failure, The
Patient Safety Handbook’s forty-nine chapters present
diverse perspectives by international experts on the ethical,
leadership and managerial challenges now faced by the patient
safety community. In addition, it explores highly relevant lessons
learned from commercial aviation, nuclear power and other sectors
that are ahead of healthcare in adopting systemic strategies
for managing the risk of human injury.
“You: The Smart Patient: An Insider’s Handbook For Getting The Best Treatment” is being published by Free Press, a division of Simon and Schuster, and represents a clear departure from the typical Joint Commission Resources (JCR) manuscript style. This book uses humor and illustrations to provide concrete guidance to patients in navigating the health care system.
It further urges patients to get involved in their health care, and showcases the importance of Joint Commission accreditation. Specific reference is made to the National Patient Safety Goals, the Speak Up Campaign, Quality Check, and the Universal Protocol; and advice is provided about where to go for health care when traveling abroad and the importance of looking for the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval when choosing a health care organization.
The Joint Commission’s acknowledgments in the book specifically recognize the dedicated efforts of America’s health care organization leaders, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health professionals in the provision of excellent patient care.
Patients as Partners: How to Involve Patients and Families in Their Own Care
As the patient’s role as part of the health care team continues to expand and grow, patient and family involvement is more important than ever to achieve safe and error-free patient care. Patients as Partners teaches health care workers how to create a culture of safety that accepts patients/families as part of the health care team, as well as how to:
Open the lines of communication between them and their patients/caregivers families
Create patient/family education programs that teach patients how to be involved and how to recognize errors pertaining to medication, hand hygiene, wrong-site surgery, correct patient identification, and more
Evaluate each patient’s level of health literacy regardless of what language they speak or their reading level
Address the education and involvement needs for special patient populations, such as pediatric, geriatric, chronic, and limited English-speaking patients
This publication also compiles many examples of what other organizations are doing to achieve, facilitate, or promote patient/family involvement in their own organization
