Texas Children’s cares for some of the country’s most critically ill patients, and safe, quality care for every patient is the most important responsibility of each staff member and employee here. Equipping our staff and employees with the knowledge and tools to take preventive action is key to creating an environment of safe patient care.
In an effort to illuminate the importance of everyone’s role, each month we will share patient safety stories that help heighten staff and employee alertness and accountability and, ultimately, reduce harm. This month’s story is a reminder that being familiar with your surroundings and knowing what to do in an urgent situation can help improve the outcome.
When congenital heart disease patient Emily came to the hospital for diagnostic testing, her family and the diagnostic team expected a routine clinical visit like she’d had many times before. But this visit ended differently. During testing, Emily’s condition began to deteriorate unexpectedly. The diagnostic team rarely treated acute patients and was not accustomed to calling for help. Their unfamiliarity with emergency protocol delayed a call to *9999, and once the response team arrived, there was additional delay in finding the code cart.*
Actions everyone can take:
- Know how to get help in an emergency. If you don’t know, ask your leader today.
- Know your surroundings and the location of emergency equipment. Some areas have code carts, automatic electronic defibrillators, panic buttons and other emergency equipment. Make sure you know what emergency support is available in your area, where it is and when it should be used.
- Be alert. Don’t take routine situations for granted, even if it’s something you’ve done many, many times before.
*Patient safety stories are based on events at Texas Children’s Hospital. Patient names and some of the circumstances of the event may have been changed to protect patient privacy.
For the latest quality and safety information, visit the Patient Safety website on Connect.