October 2018

Up Front

Health system expansions can pose safety risks

New tools are available to address the unintended consequences of mergers, acquisitions and partnerships. 

Five Questions

Dr. Chanu Rhee explores the science of sepsis diagnosis and treatment

"There is plenty of room for hospitals to improve their sepsis care by increasing awareness and compliance with best practices ... But I also believe that factors outside of the hospital setting are very important and could make even more of a difference." 

Safety News

BU medical students’ mobile app engages patients in postop recovery

Andrew Chu and Samir Haroon sensed a program designed to reduce pulmonary complications would be more successful if patients could play a more active role in their recovery. 

One Last Thing

Do you know how much your patient weighs?

Patient safety experts remind providers that a patient’s weight, recorded accurately in metric units, is a building block of medication safety. 

Upcoming events

OpenNotes: Grand Rounds, Webinar 1 - An Introduction

When: October 30, 2018, 4:00 p.m.
What: A new webinar series about sharing clinicians’ visit notes with patients. The introduction will cover best practices for gaining support within health systems for sharing notes and maximizing functionality for patients.
Who: OpenNotes’ Executive Director Catherine DesRoches, DrPH; Director of Dissemination John Santa, MD; and Senior Strategist of Outreach and Communications and Patient Advocate Liz Salmi
Click for more information and to register (Webex meeting number is 628 565 809)

ISMP Update on Top Medication Safety Issues

When: November 15, 2018, 1-2:00 pm
What: This webinar will provide an update on the top medication safety issues from 2018 based on reports to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) National Medication Errors Reporting Program and will include suggested prevention and mitigation strategies.
Who: Michael R. Cohen, RPh, MS; President, ISMP
Click for more information and to register

Patient Safety Beat is published monthly by the Betsy Lehman Center, a state agency that uses communications, research, and data to catalyze the efforts of providers, policymakers, and consumers working toward safer health care in Massachusetts.