Patient safety and Covid-19: A qualitative analysis of concerns during the public health emergency (November 2021)

Summary

This report, published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the United States, presents findings from a review of 5,500 patient safety records in which the Covid-19 public health emergency was included as part of the description of the event or unsafe condition. It forms part of a series of Network of Patient Safety Databases Data Spotlight reports.

Content

Key findings from this report:

• Among a sample of records analysed, the most common description of the patient safety concern, in 26.6% of records, was that a patient had either tested positive for Covid-19 or was a person under investigation.
• Procedural issues with Covid-19 testing represented 13% of records analysed. The results indicate a need to close the loop on critical processes, such as testing, during a public health emergency.
• The exposure of patients and staff to individuals with positive Covid-19 test results was identified in 18.2% of records analysed. Results indicate opportunities to improve communication for patient transfers, and to ensure proper isolation and use of personal protective equipment.
• Patient safety concerns such as falls, pressure injuries and adverse medication events were reported less often in relation to Covid-19 than policy- and procedure related concerns.
• Some descriptions point to interactions between staff workloads, policies and procedures, and treatment methods that may have contributed to specific pressure injury incidents.