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The PSNet Collection: All Content

The AHRQ PSNet Collection comprises an extensive selection of resources relevant to the patient safety community. These resources come in a variety of formats, including literature, research, tools, and Web sites. Resources are identified using the National Library of Medicine’s Medline database, various news and content aggregators, and the expertise of the AHRQ PSNet editorial and technical teams.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 79 Results
WebM&M Case September 27, 2023

This case highlights two “never events” involving the same patient. A first-year orthopedic surgery resident was consulted to aspirate fluid from the left ankle of a patient in the intensive care unit. The resident, accompanied by a second resident, approached the wrong patient and inserted the needle into the patient’s right ankle. At this point, a third resident entered the room and stated that it was the incorrect patient. The commentary highlights the importance of a proper time out and approaches to improve communication among all members of the care team.

Grubenhoff JA, Bakel LA, Dominguez F, et al. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2023;49:547-557.
Clinical care pathways (CP) standardize care to ensure evidence-based practices are consistently followed. This study analyzed missed diagnostic opportunities (MDO) of pediatric musculoskeletal infections that could have been mitigated had the CP recommendations been adhered to. Misinterpretation of laboratory results was a critical contributor to MDO by both pediatric emergency providers and orthopedic consultants.
Adelani MA, Hong Z, Miller AN. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2023;31:893-900.
Previous analyses have found that orthopedic surgery is one common source of patient harm. This survey of 305 orthopedists found that involvement in a medical malpractice lawsuit within the past two years increased the likelihood of experiencing burnout and reporting a medical error resulting in patient harm in the past year.
Rubisch HPK, Blaschke A-L, Berberat PO, et al. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2023;Epub May 11.
Recognizing and learning from mistakes is a core component of medical and nursing education. Based on video recordings of bedside teaching lessons, this study explored how instructors react to and address student mistakes during bedside teaching lessons. Findings highlight the importance of giving purposeful feedback and allowing students the opportunity to recognize and correct their mistakes.  
Kim RG, An VVG, Lee SLK, et al. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2023;109:103299.
Overlapping surgery, where “critical” portions of surgery are performed sequentially in separate operating rooms, is used to increase efficiency and number of procedures performed each day. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine differences in risk of complications between overlapping surgery (OS) and non-overlapping surgery (NOS) in total hip and total knee arthroplasty. Consistent with prior studies and reviews, there were no significant differences in adverse events or complications between OS and NOS. The authors stress that informed consent and patient education prior to OS is critically important.

Järvinen TLN, Rickert J, Lee MJ, et al. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2013-2023.

This quarterly commentary explores a wide range of subjects associated with patient safety, such as the impact of disruptive behavior on teams, the value of apologies, and safety challenges due to COVID-19. Older materials are available online for free.
Curated Libraries
January 19, 2023
The Primary-Care Research in Diagnosis Errors (PRIDE) Learning Network was a Boston-based national effort to improve diagnostic safety. Hosted by the State of Massachusetts’ Betsy Lehman Center, it was led by the Harvard Brigham and Women’s Center for Patient Safety Research and Practice with funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. ...
Stenquist DS, Yeung CM, Szapary HJ, et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg Glob Res Rev. 2022;6:e22.00079.
The I-PASS structured handoff tool has been widely implemented to improve communication during handoffs and patient transfers. In this study, researchers modified the I-PASS tool for use in orthopedic surgery and assessed the impact on adverse clinical outcomes. After 18 months, there was sustained adherence to the tool and the quality of handoffs improved, but no notable changes in clinical outcomes were identified.
Waldron J, Denisiuk M, Sharma R, et al. Injury. 2022;53:2053-2059.
Increases in clinician workload can contribute to burnout. This study explored seasonal variation in workload in an orthopedic trauma service at one Level 1 trauma center. Findings indicate that workload was highest in the summer months and correlated with resident sleepiness scores. The study team also found that patient safety events were highest during the summer, but these were not correlated with increased workload.
Prieto JM, Falcone B, Greenberg P, et al. J Surg Res. 2022;279:84-88.
Hospitalized children are vulnerable to patient safety risks. Using a large malpractice claims database, researchers found that a wide range of pediatric surgical specialties – including orthopedics, general surgery, and otolaryngology – are most frequently associated with malpractice lawsuits. The study identified several potentially modifiable factors (i.e., patient evaluations, technical performance, and communication) that can lead to improvements in pediatric surgical safety.
Occelli P, Mougeot F, Robelet M, et al. J Patient Saf. 2022;18:415-420.
Understanding patient experience can provide key insights about safety culture. This qualitative study of 80 adult patients concluded that patients’ perspectives of surgical safety are closely tied to the degree of trust they have in their surgeons; this trust is based on the patient’s relationship with their surgeon, communication style, and the patient’s experience during perioperative consultation.
Guzek R, Goodbody CM, Jia L, et al. J Pediatr Orthop. 2022;42:393-399.
Research has demonstrated inequitable treatment of racially minoritized patients resulting in poorer health outcomes. This study aimed to determine if implicit racial bias impacts pediatric orthopedic surgeons’ clinical decision making. While pediatric orthopedic surgeons showed stronger pro-white implicit bias compared to the US general population (29% vs. 19%), the bias did not appear to affect decision making in clinical vignettes.
Malahias M-A, Antoniadou T, Jang SJ, et al. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021;29:e1387-e1395.
Previous research has raised concerns about safety risks associated with overlapping surgery, defined as two procedures performed concurrently, but where critical surgical portions of each procedure occur at different times. Based on a meta-analysis of six articles, the authors of this systematic review found that rates of surgical complications readmissions were similar among overlapping and nonoverlapping surgery in patients undergoing total joint arthroscopy.
Renaudin P, Coste A, Audurier Y, et al. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2021;129:504-509.
Pharmacists play an essential role in medication safety through practices such as medication reconciliation and best possible medication history. This observational study found that 20% of patients presenting to surgical units at one French hospital over a two-month period had a medication error. Pharmacists intervened and resolved medication errors related to untreated indications, subtherapeutic dosages, and prescriptions without an indication.
Chaudhry H, Nadeem S, Mundi R. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2021;479:47-56.
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased the use of telehealth across various medical specialties.This systematic review did not identify any differences in patient or surgeon satisfaction or patient-reported outcomes with telehealth for orthopedic care delivery as compared to in-person visits.However, the authors note that the included studies did not adequately capture or report safety endpoints, such as complications or missed diagnoses.
WebM&M Case August 26, 2020

A 40-year-old man with multiple comorbidities, including severe aortic stenosis, was admitted for a pathologic pelvic fracture (secondary to osteoporosis) after a fall. During the hospitalization, efforts at mobilization led to a second fracture of the left femoral neck The case describes deviations in the plan for management of anesthesia and postoperative care which ultimately contributed to the patient’s death.

American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. March 12, 2020.

Communication and shared decision-making are fundamental tactics to guide clinical team and patient efforts to minimize the potential for prescription opioid misuse. This tool kit includes modules for providers that outline practice and communication strategies to help with postoperative pain. Patient and family materials in the kit focus on safe medication disposal and instructions for tracking pre- and post-surgery pain levels.
Barbanti-Brodano G, Griffoni C, Halme J, et al. Eur Spine J. 2019.
Checklists are one tool for improving communication and reducing risk of adverse outcomes. The World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist has been previously studied in various surgical specialties; this study sought to determine its effectiveness in spinal surgeries. The authors conducted a retrospective analysis comparing the incidence of complications pre-checklist and post-checklist in a single center and found a significant reduction in the overall incidence of complications after the introduction of the checklist.