Safe and accurate telephone triage is of critical importance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This Swedish study evaluated district nurses’ experiences and perceptions of patient safety at a national nurse advice triage call center. Interviews with nurses resulted in an overall theme of “being able to make the right decision” based on the categories of “communication” and “assessment.”

Healthcare associated infections (HAI) affect thousands of hospitalized patients each year. This study evaluated working conditions that impact risk behaviors, such as missed hand hygiene, that may contribute to HAI. Main findings indicate that interruptions and working with colleagues were associated with increased risk behaviors.

Communication, coordination, and cooperation are key elements to effective teamwork, especially during high-stakes situations. This simulator-based study observed trauma teams and found that proven techniques, such as closed-loop communication, occurred infrequently, even in teams that had previously completed teamwork training programs.

This comparison of two different methodologies for retrospectively detecting safety events found that the methodology used in the Harvard Medical Practice Study was more accurate than that used in the Global Trigger Tool.

A systematic review using failure mode effects analysis methodology defined vulnerabilities in medication management in primary care.

The authors describe a multi-year strategy to implement a decision support system in Sweden to improve medication prescribing accuracy. 

… who received traditional training. A prior AHRQ WebM&M  perspective discusses the growing role of simulation …