Patient Safety : Principles and Practice

This book provides readers with both a foundation of theoretical knowledge regarding patient safety, as well as evidence-based strategies for preventing errors in various clinical settings. The authors’ goal is to help clinicians and administrators gain the skills and knowledge they need to develop safe patient practices in their organizations. Key topics include: an overview of evidence-based best practices for patient safety; clear explanation of important patient safety policies and legislation; innovative uses of technology such as computerized provider order entry, barcoding medications, and computerized clinical decision support systems; the importance of an informed patient in preventing medical errors; how to communicate with the public and the patient about errors if they occur; and special patient safety concerns for children, the elderly, and the mentally ill.