Essay On Patient Safety In Obstetrics And Gynecology

Patient Safety in Obstetrics and Gynecology

ABSTRACT: Since publication of the Institute of Medicine's landmark report To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System, emphasis on patient safety has steadily increased. Obstetrician–gynecologists should continuously incorporate elements of patient safety into their practices and also encourage others to use these practices.

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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is committed to improving quality and safety in women's health care. The Institute of Medicine report, To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System, notes that errors in health care are a significant cause of death and injury (1). Despite disagreements over the actual numbers cited, all health care professionals agree that patient safety is extremely important and should be addressed by the overall health care system. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to emphasize its long-standing commitment to quality and patient safety by codifying a set of objectives that should be adopted by obstetrician–gynecologists in their practices. Obstetrician–gynecologists are encouraged to promulgate these principles in the hospitals and other settings where they practice.

Patient Safety Objectives

I. Develop a commitment to encourage a culture of patient safety

Promoting safety requires that all those in the health care environment recognize that the potential for errors exists systemically. Women's health care should be delivered in a learning environment that encourages disclosure and exchange of information in the event of errors, near misses, and adverse