1. National Patient Safety Goals for 2008
JOINT COMMISSION’S
National Patient Safety Goals for 2008

2. PURPOSE Promotes specific improvements in patient safety
Highlights problematic areas in health care
Describes evidence and expert-based consensus to solutions to these problems

3. LIST OF 2008 NPSGs
Goal 1_Improve the accuracy of [patient] identification
Goal 2_Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Goal 3_Improve the safety of using medications
Goals 4&5&6_NA
Goal 7_Reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections
Goal 8_Accurately & completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care
Goal 9_Reduce the risk of [patient] harm resulting from falls
Goals 10&11&12_NA
Goals 13_Define & communicate the means for [patients] and their families to report concerns about safety and encourage them to do so
Goal 14_NA
Goal 15_The organization identifies safety risks inherent in its [patient] population
Goal 16_Improve recognition & response to changes in a patient’s condition
Universal Protocol_ The organization fulfills the expectation set forth in the Universal Protocol

4. GOAL 1: Improve the accuracy of patient identification
Requirement:
Use at least two patient identifiers when
providing care, treatment or services
Rationale for requirement for Goal 1:
Wrong patient errors occur in virtually all
aspects of diagnosis & treatment

5. GOAL 1: Improve the accuracy of patient identification
Implementation Expectations
Two patient identifies are used when administering medications or blood products;
Two identifiers are used when collecting blood samples and other specimens for clinical testing;
Two identifiers are used when providing other treatments or procedures;
The patient’s room number or physical location is not used as an identifier;
Containers used for blood and other specimens are labeled in the presence of the patient.

6. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Requirement 2A: For verbal or telephone orders or the telephonic reporting of critical test results, verify the complete order or test result by having a person receiving the information record and “read-back” the complete order or test result.

7. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Rationale for Requirement 2A: Ineffective communication is the most frequently cited category of root causes of sentinel events. Effective communication, which is timely, accurate, complete, unambiguous, and understood by the recipient, reduces error and results in improved patient safety.

8. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Implementation Expectation Requirement 2A: The receiver of the information writes down the complete order or test result or enters it into a computer. The receiver of the information reads back the order or test result. The receiver of the information receives confirmation from the individual who gave the order or test result.

9. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Requirement 2B: Standardize a list of abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and designations that are not to be used throughout the organization. Implementation Expectation The organization implements the list and applies this list to all orders and medication- related documentation when handwritten or entered as free text into a computer.

10. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Implementation Requirement 2B: The abbreviations not to be used includes: Preprinted forms do not include any abbreviations identified as not to be used.
U,u or IU
Q.D., QD, q.d. or qd
Trailing zeros (X.0 mg)
Lack of trailing zero (.X mg)
Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d., or qod
MS, MSO4 ,MgSO4

11. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Implementation Requirement 2C: Measure, assess, and if appropriate, take action to improve the timeliness of reporting, and receipt by the responsible licensed caregiver, of critical tests and results and values.

12. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Implementation Expectation
Requirement 2C:
The organization defines
Critical tests and critical results and values
Acceptable length of time between the ordering and reporting of critical tests, results & values
Length of time between availability and receipt of results
The organization
Collects data on the timeliness of reporting of critical tests, results & values
Assesses data & determines whether there is a need for improvement
Takes appropriate action to improve & measure the effectiveness of those actions

13. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Requirement 2E:
Implement a standardized approach to “hand-off” communications, including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.

14. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Rationale for Requirement 2E:
The primary objective is to provide accurate information about care, treatment, and services, current condition and any recent or anticipated changes.
The information communicated during a “hand off” must be accurate in order to meet patient safety goals.

15. GOAL 2: Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers
Implementation Expectations for Requirement 2E:
The organization’s process for effective “hand-off’ communication includes:
Interactive communications allowing the opportunity for questioning between the giver and receiver of information.
Up-to-Date information regarding the care, treatment and services, condition and any recent or anticipated changes
A process for verification of the received information, including repeating back or read-back
An opportunity for the receiver to review relevant historical data, which may include previous care, treatment and services
Interruptions during hand-offs are limited to minimize the possibility that information would fail to be conveyed or would be forgotten

16. GOAL 3: Improve the Safety of Using Medications
Requirement 3C:
Identify and, at a minimum, annually review a list of look-alike/sound-alike drugs used by the organization,, and take action to prevent errors involving the interchange of these drugs.

17. GOAL 3: Improve the Safety of Using Medications
Implementation Expectations for Requirements:
3C_Identify & at a minimum, annually review a list of look-alike/sound- alike (LASA) drugs;
3D_Label all medications, medication containers
syringes, medicine cups, basins or other solutions on & off the sterile field;
3E_Reduce the likelihood of patient harm associated with the use of anticoagulation therapy.

18. GOAL 7: Reduce the Risk of Healthcare Associated Infections
Requirement 7:
7A_Comply with current World Health Organization or CDC Hand Hygiene guidelines;
7B_Manage as sentinel events all identified cases of unanticipated death or major permanent loss of function associated with a health care-associated infection.

19. GOAL 8: Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care
Requirements :
8A_There is a process for comparing the patient’s current medications with those ordered for the patient while under the care of the organization;
8B_A complete list of the patient’s medications is communicated to the next provider of service when a patient is referred or transferred to the next provider of service, when a patient is referred or transferred to another setting, service, practitioner, or level of care within or outside the organization. The complete list of medications is also provided to the patient on discharge from the facility.

20. GOAL 9: Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls
9B_Implement a Fall Reduction Program including an evaluation of the effectiveness of the program

21. GOAL 13: Encourage patients’ active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy
13A_Define and communicate the means for patients and their families to report concerns about safety and encourage them to do so.

22. GOAL 15: The Organization identifies safety risks inherent in its [patient] population
15A_The organization identifies patients at risk for suicide. [Applicable to psychiatric hospitals and patients being treated for emotional or behavioral disorders in general hospitals-(NOT APPLICABLE TO CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITALS)]

23. GOAL 16: Improve recognition and response to changes in a patient’s condition
16A_The organization selects a suitable method that enables health care staff members to directly request additional assistance from a specially trained individual(s) when the patient’s condition appears to be worsening.[Critical Access Hospital, Hospital]

24. UNIVERSAL PROTOCOL Requirements for UP
1A_Conduct a pre-operative verification process as described in the Universal Protocol;
1B_Make the mark at or near the incision site as described in the Universal Protocol ;
1C_Conduct a “time out” immediately before starting the procedure as described in the Universal Protocol.
*Universal Protocol Guidelines for Preventing Wrong Site, Wrong Procedure and Wrong Person Surgery are found on page (17 to 19) of the JC National Patient Safety Goals, requirements & implementation expectations.
How to access the JC NPSG:
JC Web Address:
At the Joint Commission Web page; click on 2008 National Patient Goals for HOSPITALS.
Click on 2008 National Patient Safety Goal, Manual Chapter
(Includes Rationale & Implementation Expectations)

25. Test Your Knowledge of the NPSG
Accredited & Certified facilities can chose to implement the NPSG
True or False
Two patient identifiers are used when administering medications or blood products
Ineffective communication is cited as the most frequent cause of a sentinel events
Q.O.D. & MSO4, are acceptable abbreviations
A goal for a facility’s ”HAND OFF” Communication Approach is to allow an opportunity to ask & respond to questions
One way to prevent an error with look-alike/sound-alike drugs is to label drugs when transferred from the original packaging to another container
A complete list of meds is communicated to the next provider of service & given to the patient at discharge
The patient/family is educated on the Fall Reduction” Program
A “Time Out” before a procedure is used to give staff time to verify that it is the right patient, procedure, & site.
Hand Hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of healthcare acquired infections.
Please or fax the completed test to SNI. The results of your test will be ed back to you.