Published
Hi. I'm not clear on all of the strategies recommended by Leapfrog, but it seems more of the same stuff we see with the educational system.
On the basis of what I've read so far, Leapfrog seems to be indicating that since their organization consists of major employers and their employees and the families of these employees have been the victims of the various medical misadventures, they should be able to call the lion's share of the shots.
I have no qualms with employers wanting say so about their investments. However, the people that they really should be collaborating with are the people who are closest to the bedside like nurses, nursing assistants, therapists, and so on as well as patients and their families.
It's important for business people to understand that the provision of health and medical care is a two way street. While many medical errors occur in the hospital, a large number of med errors are committed in the home by patients and their families. So when we're talking about quality, we must not just limit strategies to four walls. As you, healing and SICU pointed out, the nurses definitely should be included in the initiatives when it comes to covering all bases.
VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN
49 Articles; 5,349 Posts
http://www.mercola.com/2002/apr/13/hospitals_business.htm
Seems to me like these corporate executives left out the most important "point" on hospital safety:
MAKE SURE LICENSED PERSONNEL ARE AT EVERY BEDSIDE (EVERY PT DESERVES AN RN)
SANE NURSE-PT RATIOS DECREASE MEDICATION ERRORS!!!
Why is it that these people didn't even THINK about nurses in formulating their "safer" hospital Leapfrog paradigm.