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Staffing Shortage in Healthcare
Patient Safety
| Description: | In 1999, The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) report on medication errors, called “To Err is Human,” brought the issue of patient safety to the forefront of the industry’s and nation’s consciousness. The IOM called for a fundamental, sweeping change to improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans. A companion2003 IOM report, “Keeping Patients Safe: Transforming the Work Environment of Nurses,” addresses the impact of nurse staff levels, nurse work hours and mandatory overtime are having on patient safety. |
| Topic: | Every healthcare institution has an ethical obligation to protect the safety of patients by providing staff in sufficient numbers and with adequate skills to deliver quality care. The ability of institutions to fulfill this obligation is compromised by the current and growing shortage of healthcare professionals and the amount of administrative time that can detract them from patient care. It is important for hospitals to invest in technology in order to attract and retain healthcare professionals who are more likely to thrive in an environment in which long hours, stress, pay, medical errors/malpractice and heavy administrative burdens are relieved. According to a recent survey conducted by Siemens, patients perceive the single biggest cause of medical errors (at 43 percent) to be overworked staff or staff shortages. |
| Expert: | Don Rucker[70 KB], Don Rucker, MD, vice president and chief medical officer, Siemens Medical Solutions; MBA and MS in medical computer science, Stanford University Gail Latimer[264 KB], MSN, RN Chief Nursing Officer, Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services, master’s degree in nursing administration from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and bachelor’s degree in nursing form Pennsylvania State University |
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Topic Index
Computerized Physician Order Entry
Defining the Future State of Interoperability
Electronic Medical Records
Healthcare Industry Collaboration
How Technology Can Enhance Patient Safety
Medication Management
Workflow/Process Management
