Core measures and National Patient Safety Goals

Core measures and National Patient Safety Goals

Introduction

An article published in the Proceedings of the Baylor University Medicine Center, by Mascia, Richter, Convery, & Haydar (2009), focuses on the methods used by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO) to implements Core Measures and the National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG), which can improve patient safety (Masica, Richter, Convery, & Haydar, 2009, pp. 103-111).

Discussion

The core measures from the Joint Commission serve as a standard of performance measuring system that can be used nationally to assess care given in particular areas. Even though, there is wide spread dissemination of the patient safety goals and the guidelines, there is a considerable variation seen among the hospitals. The hospital, its type, size, and location are few of the contributing factors that are associated with the compliance rates. However, I was able to identify the implementation of core measurements during my internship, and also able to offer the safe care to my patients according to the NPSGs (Masica, Richter, Convery, & Haydar, 2009, pp. 103-111).

In the case study, my patient was Ms. J.B. who was admitted in the hospital on May 16, 2003 for the surgery of bilateral knee replacement. Prior to the surgery, the patient has a known history of myocardial infarction, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and osteoarthritis. Recently, Ms. J.B is also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. She is currently taking Coumadin, Lisinopril (ACE inhibitor), Aspirin, and Metoprolol (Beta blocker). The safe use of medicine is an influential component of NPSGs (The Joint Commission, 2013). Thus, the myocardial infarction and the associated medical-illnesses require appropriate use of drugs for the management. All the prescribed medications are given at the time of admission, and also after discharge. The beta-blockers and ACE-inhibitors affect the contractility of the damaged myocardium. The ...