Patient safety
Patient Safety
Patient safety (/ˈpeɪʃənt ˈseɪfti/) is a discipline in the healthcare sector that emphasizes the reporting, analysis, and prevention of medical errors that often lead to adverse healthcare events. The etymology of the term comes from the Latin word "patiens" meaning "one who suffers", and the English word "safety" meaning "the condition of being protected from harm or other non-desirable outcomes".
History
The history of patient safety is complex and filled with numerous advancements and setbacks. The concept of patient safety has been a concern since the time of Hippocrates, who is often credited with the saying "First, do no harm". However, it was not until the late 20th century that the issue of patient safety became a prominent topic in the healthcare industry.
Importance
Patient safety is of paramount importance in healthcare. It is an essential component of healthcare quality and a fundamental principle of healthcare ethics. It involves the prevention and mitigation of harm caused by errors of omission or commission in healthcare, and the establishment of operational systems and processes that minimize the likelihood of errors and maximize the likelihood of intercepting them when they occur.
Related Terms
- Adverse event: An injury caused by medical management rather than the underlying disease or condition of the patient.
- Medical error: A preventable adverse effect of care, whether or not it is evident or harmful to the patient.
- Healthcare quality: The degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge.
- Healthcare ethics: A set of moral principles, beliefs and values that guide our choices and relationships in healthcare.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Patient safety
- Wikipedia's article - Patient safety
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