The joint commission has an article called National Patient Safety Goals. In this article there are five goals and applications of the goals stated is a systematic and legible way. These goals and their application pertain to safe home health practices but be applied to all form of nursing. The goals are in order starting with the first goal of how too: ‘improve the accuracy of patient identification’. It is important to identify in two different form the patient’s identification and their address. I can only imagine showing up to your patient’s house and completing a visit just to realize you had the wrong address and wrong patient. The next goal stated is to ’improve the safety of using medications’. Patients use multiple medications. It is important to educate them about what they are taking and set up weekly medication distribution to help the patient safely take their medications. Third goal stated: ‘Reduce the risk of health care – associated infections. Following the world health organization on hygiene guidelines and center for disease control states that proper hand hygiene prevents the majority of staff to patient transmission of infections agents. The fourth goal stated: “Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from harm’. Falls are a major problem for patients in the home as well as in institutions. It is imperative that health care providers assess a patient’s environment and fall risk with the goal to prevent falls. The fifth goal is: ‘The organization identifies safety risks inherent in its patient population’. It is emphasized that the use of home oxygen can be a high-risk treatment for patient burns, catching on fire and explosion’s when used around and with fire containing products such as cigarettes and candles. It is recommended that the provider asses the patient uses oxygen in a safe manor (The Joint Commission,2021). Technology and the benefits to Nursing In the article How Technology Has Changed the Role of Nursing it is stated that technology plays a huge role in the delivery clinical care to patients. The use of electrical medical record has taken away the need for paper records and aids in unifying a patient’s medical treatment across different modalities. The electrical health records allow the practitioner to see the patients past and current medication prescriptions. Th Electrical medical records help prevent over prescribing medications and or allowing the use of medications that are contraindicated with each other. The electrical medical records have helped me to
establish the patients often vital medications on admission so that they can receive their medication in a timely manner. The Electrical medical record also lets me know what the patient taking at home if they don’t know or if they are lying to me about if they have an opioid script. The electrical medical record helps me to be a better health care practitioner (Bailey,2021). Reference: Bailey, Steve,(2021,April,29) ‘How Technology Has Changed the Role of Nursing. Retrieved:June,10,2021 The Joint Commission ‘National Patient Safety Goals Effective January 2021 for the Home Care Program’. Retrieved: June,10,2021 Discussion post 2: Patient correct identification (NPSG.01.01.01) is the first safety measure in any medical setting using at least two patient identifiers such as the name and the date of birth or patient’s MRN number. This process ensures that patients are getting proper treatment, medicine, and procedure. Safe use of Medication (NPSG.03.06.01) Medication reconciliation needs to be done correctly for any doctor’s visit, from the medication at home, during the hospital stay, and at discharge. Information needs to be accurate and passed along efficiently. Patients need to know the changes, the following doses, the interactions, and the side effects of medications. Especially give them written information because many are forgetful. Reinforce to keep a record of all medications they are on, doses, routes, frequency. The prevention of infection (NPSG.07.01.01) I particularly important. Education the most by using the hand cleaning guidelines from the world health organization (WHO) and the center for disease control (CDC) to meet the standards. Use and establish the goals for hand-cleaning. Fall prevention on patients (NPSG.09.02.01) decreases injuries by identifying the patients at risk first and implementing measures to stop the fall from happening. For instance, to prevent the patient from falling by avoiding clutter. Also, make sure to put the bell within reach and keep alarms on. In addition, identify medication that causes unsteadiness, weakness, and disorientation. In addition, in some health care settings, using scale-like Hester Davis to categorize the level of risk and take proper measures according to established policies. Patient safety risk identification (NPSG.15.02.01) reveals any risk for a patient getting supplemental oxygen at home like fire, reinforcing the risks and education on using oxygen safely. Technology is essential to home care ( , n.d.) . (n.d.). HomeCare Magazine.