Libraries are for checking out books, right? Think again!In this episode, learn how rural librarian Dianne Connery became a community advocate in Pottsboro, Texas. In this retirement community, many residents cannot utilize technology for information/education. Find out how this community pioneer meets the needs of rural community members and the impacts of her efforts.
Pain management is a delicate practice, as accidental overdoses have quadrupled over two decades. How do prescribers balance pain relief without harm? In this episode, Dr. Emanuel George, an Associate Professor in the HSC College of Pharmacy, contrasts the differences between opioid and non-opioid pain medications and introduces non-pharmacologic methods for pain management. He also touches on legislation that promotes/hinders safety. Download this episode to learn more!
What is important to geriatric populations? Are there common patient safety risks they encounter at home? Learn about Age-Friendly Health Systems, an Institute for Healthcare Improvement initiative, and how it applies to this ever-growing vulnerable population. In this episode, Dr. Kate Taylor, Clinical Executive for SaferCare Texas and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, explains how healthcare professionals should listen to what matters to them.
Listen to SaferCare Texas’ Director John Sims interview his wife, Karen Sims, as she shares her challenging healthcare journey. Her story began with a “routine” tonsillectomy which resulted in Steven Johnson Syndrome -- a rare and serious disease which usually presents itself as a severe reaction to medication -- and, eventually, cataracts. Listen to her story today!
Many people express pain following knee replacement surgery, but they report improved quality of life after rehabilitation. Typically, individuals have no more than two surgeries (one on each knee). In our second patient experience episode, meet Brett Wells as he shares his twelve-year journey following 39 surgeries! Brett talks about the circumstances leading to his injuries, how his journey reduced his quality of life, and both the positive and questionable experiences he had with healthcare providers.
One positive result from the Patient Safety and Quality Act of 2005 was Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs). Many healthcare professionals and laypeople hear the term “PSO” and believe they understand the purpose. PSOs align with the SaferCare Texas mission: to challenge traditional thinking to eliminate preventable harm. In this episode of Speak Up for SaferCare, listen as Karen Kendrick MSN, RN and the VP of Clinical Initiatives and Quality for the Texas Hospital Association, describes PSOs and how they improve patient safety and quality of care.
The pandemic spawned a healthcare worker burnout epidemic. During the Covid-19 case peaks, many already short-staffed workforces isolated those ill from Covid. Consequently, healthcare leaders faced challenging decisions to staff appropriately while maintaining safe operations. In this episode, Aaron Lopez RN, CEO of ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital of Weatherford, explains how his leadership team responded to their predicted staffing vacancies. Listen this week as Aaron explains how injecting fun into the workplace incentivizes staff to find their joy in the face of unprecedented circumstances.
Maternal mortality occurs with alarming frequency. With 17.4 maternal deaths/100,000 live births(1), the United States loses more new mothers than most other developed countries. What should be considered a joyous event far too often becomes a tragedy. As someone involved in the miracle of life, Katie Grennan, RN, CNM, shares her experiences as a doula and midwife and how practitioners might improve. Creator of the iOS app “What About Mom?” and previous Speak Up for SaferCare guest, Dr. Teresa Wagner, joins the discussion as the two provide special insight on how current “routine” practices may contribute to poor maternal outcomes.High U.S. Maternal Mortality Rate." Statista, Statista Inc., 19 Nov 2020, https://www-statista-com.proxy.unthsc.edu/chart/23541/maternal-mortality-developed-countries/
Patient safety is everybody’s business. Preventable medical errors occur in 10% of all patient encounters in a variety of healthcare settings, which can be devastating to patients, families, and the healthcare workers providing their care. Most errors originate from faulty systems or processes, and not individuals. Speak Up for SaferCare shares stories from subject matter experts, healthcare workers, patients, and caregivers-and aims to illuminate where things went wrong, so future harm is prevented.
How do you respond to emergencies? Do you hope someone else will intervene, or do you jump into action? Some acute events require prompt actions when lives are at stake, yet it is possible for anyone to fall victim to the "fight or flight" response. Dr. Jeff Beeson has served many emergency roles: Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Paramedic(EMT-P), Registered Nurse(RN), and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine(DO). He now serves as an Emergency Physician responding to disasters. Listen to our next episode as Dr. Beeson describes how to manage psychological stress during emergencies.
Men sometimes avoid seeking treatment when symptoms present, rationalizing it as "nothing" or thinking the issue will go away. In honor of National Heart Month, heart attack survivor Brad Newsom shares what he experienced during seventeen days of hospital care. Hear Brad's authentic description of how this event effected his mind, body, and spirit, and how hospital staff took his care to the next level. His mantra "Real Heroes Wear Scrubs" demonstrates his sincere appreciation for the healthcare workers involved in this event.
Patient Safety professionals advise "stopping the line" when encountering an imminent safety risk. Join John and Lee Ann as Rey Gonzalez, an expert in nuclear power and human performance, continues the discussion on "why stopping the line may not work". In part two of this conversation, Rey dives deep into "normalized deviance" or "drift" in workplaces and leadership initiatives needed to avoid this potentially harmful practice.
Patient Safety professionals advise "stopping the line" when encountering an imminent safety risk. Work stops until the risk is identified, analyzed, and mitigated to avoid harm. However, an organization's culture dictates if team members feel psychologically safe to stop work abruptly. Join us on this two-episode series, where Rey Gonzalez, an expert in Nuclear power and human performance, shares why stopping the line may not work and how to transform organizational culture, so it will.
Do you understand, and can you use all health information that your healthcare provider gives you or finds on the internet? As many as 88% of Americans might say they do to avoid embarrassment. In this episode, Dr. Teresa Wagner, a SaferCare Texas Clinical Executive and health literacy expert, explains how crafting all healthcare information in terms suitable for laypeople may prevent patient harm and reduce healthcare costs.
Are Pharmacists reliable conduits between providers and insurance companies? What if a medication requires prior authorization? Learn how manufacturer coupons can offset medication costs. In this episode, recorded on National Pharmacists Day, Dr. Megan Wesling, Board certified in pharmacotherapy and ambulatory care, describes harm resulting from patients' inability to access medications and how Pharmacists are bridging the gaps.
The pandemic has stressed our healthcare workers past its limits. Hospitals were busting at the seams. There was no family support. They feared contracting Covid-19 themselves or transmitting it to vulnerable family members. They faced daily staffing shortages, yet these heroes answered the call to serve the patients most severely impacted! Many now suffer burnout. What is burnout? How do we recognize it in our colleagues and ourselves? How can our healthcare workers be resilient to avoid patient harm? In this episode, Dr. David Farmer, emotional intelligence and psychological safety expert, examines healthcare worker well-being, causes of burnout, and mitigation strategies.
In this episode, John and Lee Ann discuss the meaning of patient safety with expert (and their boss!) Jessica Maack Rangel. Jessica is an advocate for patient safety with experience leading patient safety for large hospital systems, the Ebola crisis, and the current Covid-19 pandemic.