Dear Nurse Colleague:
In December, the Boston Globe ran a front-page article on the importance of reporting medical errors at hospitals in Massachusetts. The Globe reported that hospitals have worked aggressively at reporting incidents and that reports have gradually risen over the last several years.
In an era in which systems can occasionally break down, the importance of patient safety will always remain high on our priority list. We understand that nursing plays a significant role in providing the optimal care for our patients and working with caregivers from throughout the hospital our efforts to recognize opportunities for improvement are essential.
At BWH we are proud of our strong tradition of openly examining patient safety issues and developing innovative approaches to stemming errors. Our hospital pioneered much of the early research on this topic that eventually led to a landmark finding of the Institute of Medicine last year. We have developed new approaches, such as the computer order entry system, that have offset the impact of human error.
But, it is important to note that no system is failsafe and that our best hope to positively impact this issue is through diligence. We are working with Anthony Whittemore, MD, chief medical officer, to further refine the manner in which errors are reported, removing both barriers and blame. These are immensely complex issues involving multiple levels of responsibility and we remain committed to addressing safety issues for the sake of our patients.
I have a deep level of confidence that this issue can be best approached with the strong and continued input of our nursing community. With your help and assistance we can continue to make an important difference in the lives of our patients.
Sincerely,
Nancy Kruger, DNSc, RN
Vice President, Patient Care Services
Chief Nursing Officer