WHO – Patient Safety Solution

WHO. World Health Organization. Patient Safety Solutions, 2007.

Worldwide, the delivery of health care is challenged by a wide range of safety problems. The traditional medical oath— “First do no harm”— is rarely violated intentionally by physicians, nurses, or other practitioners, but the fact remains that patients are harmed every day in every country across the globe in the course of receiving health care. The first things that we must do are to acknowledge this disturbing truth; to reject the notion that the status quo is acceptable; and, perhaps most important, to act to correct the problems that are contributing to unsafe care.

All patients have a right to effective, safe care at all times.

Unintended harm to patients undergoing treatment is not a new phenomenon. The earliest record of this problem dates from the 17th century BC. The response in those days was clearly and solely punitive (for example, cutting off a surgeon’s hand). Today, the solutions for improving patient safety offer a more constructive approach—one in which success (safer care) is determined by how well caregivers work together as a team, how effectively they communicate with one another and with patients, and how carefully the care delivery processes and supporting systems of care are designed. With the growing recognition of safety problems in health care, it is now time to create and disseminate “Solutions” for patient safety.

Fortunately, political leaders in some countries are framing their arguments for reforming health care in terms of higher quality and the elimination or correction of practices that are known to be unsafe or wasteful. Similarly, patients and their families are becoming increasingly skilled in accessing information to make personal health care decisions about treatments and their choice of providers, and demanding safer care as well. Health-care practitioners are also becoming more proficient at incorporating evidence-based knowledge into their clinical decision-making practices.

In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety and identified six action areas. One of these action areas is the development of “Solutions for Patient Safety”. In the same year, the Joint Commission and Joint Commission International were designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Patient Safety Solutions, to initiate and coordinate the work of developing and disseminating solutions for patient safety. The output from this component of the World Alliance will be delivered to the global health-care community as “Patient Safety Solutions”.

Disponível Em: <https://www.who.int/>