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Showing results for tags 'Decision making'.
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Content ArticleThe World Health Organization (WHO) has published a new edition of this guidance on health technology assessment (HTA) for medical devices. Health technology assessment (HTA) is described as ‘a well-recognised and methodologically robust evidence-based priority-setting process used to provide information on the safety, efficacy, quality, appropriateness, and cost-effectiveness of health technologies’. This document ‘is intended to provide guidance to policy-makers, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries that are currently developing HTA capacity.’ The document describes ‘general concepts of HTA and points to best-practice resources to enable low- and middle-income countries to make consistent, transparent and informed decision-making on the adoption and use of medical devices to ensure clinical needs are met whilst delivering value to patients, healthcare providers, and the broader health system.’
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EventWith over 135 million outpatient appointments delivered in 2023/24, outpatient care is one of the most widely used services in the NHS. Yet despite its importance, too many patients experience long waits, inconsistent communication, and a system that can feel fragmented and impersonal. As demand continues to rise, the need for a more co-ordinated, patient-centred approach has never been clearer. In this timely and forward-looking session, the Patients Association explores a bold new vision for outpatient reform: one that places patients not just at the centre of care, but in true partnership throughout it. Chaired by Sarah Tilsed, our Head of Partnerships and Involvement, you'll hear from: Irene Poku, patient advocate, Anne Kinderlerer, Digital Health Clinical Lead at the Royal College of Physicians Theresa Barnes, Associate Medical Director for Clinical Services at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It will unpack the key themes from Prescription for outpatients: reimagining planned specialist care, a joint report from the Patients Association and the Royal College of Physicians. This roadmap for reform proposes five ambitions and eight transformational shifts to create outpatient services that are timely, equitable, and genuinely collaborative. As the NHS looks to the future through the lens of the 10-Year Health Plan, this is a chance to be part of the conversation about what outpatient care should look like and how we can get there. Register
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Content ArticleMany errors in surgical patient care are caused by poor non-technical skills (NTS). This includes skills like decision-making and communication. How often these errors cause harm and death is not known. This goal of this study was to report how many surgical deaths are associated with NTS errors in Australia by assessing all surgical deaths from 2012 to 2019. Some 64% of cases had an NTS error linked to death. Decision-Making and Situational Awareness errors were the most common. The results of this study can be used to guide improvement and reduce future errors and patient death.
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We asked the Patient Safety Group (PSG) of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) to draw up their top 10 patient safety tips for surgical trainees. See also: Safety in surgery series Top 10 tips for surgical safety: ‘Think Safety, think SEIPS’ Top 10 priorities for patient safety in surgery Listen to the patient and what matters to them; share decisions with them. Encourage the patient to be in control of their care; they only have to consider their own care and will not be lost to follow up. Trust your instincts; always speak up if you think something is not right. Never be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Look after yourself and your team; there can be no patient safety without team safety. Foster good team working; recognise and respect the value of all team members; take account of everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. Take responsibility for the safety of your patients; patient safety is everyone’s responsibility, not just that of the quality improvement team. Help design systems that make it easier for you to do the right thing. Do not make assumptions. Work as imagined is not the same as work done; make sure you always test any process in practice and confirm that what you think is the case is actually happening. Regularly audit your practice. Celebrate good practice and share your experiences. Take on board feedback and learn from it; be willing to change practice. When outcomes are not as expected, openly discuss and learn, to enable you and your team to reduce the risk of the same thing happening again. -
Content ArticleThe being fair tool will support decision-making for patient safety incidents referred to workforce, and to ensure that staff are not treated unfairly after a patient safety incident. In rare circumstances a learning response may raise concerns about an individual’s conduct or fitness to practise. It is in these specific circumstances that the being fair decision-making tool can help decide what next steps to take.
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In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, patient safety and quality care remain the cornerstones of effective medical practice. Every day, healthcare professionals strive to provide treatments that not only heal but also protect patients from harm. As a passionate advocate for patient-centred care, Ssuuna Mujib, a volunteer at the Uganda Alliance of Patients' Organisations, believes that prioritising safety is not just a responsibility—it’s a moral imperative that shapes trust, outcomes and the future of healthcare. The importance of patient safety Patient safety refers to the prevention of errors and adverse effects associated with healthcare delivery. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), millions of patients worldwide suffer from preventable harm due to unsafe care each year. These incidents can range from medication errors to hospital-acquired infections, surgical complications or misdiagnoses. The consequences are profound, affecting patients’ lives, increasing healthcare costs and eroding trust in medical systems. Ensuring patient safety requires a multifaceted approach that involves healthcare providers, administrators, policymakers and patients themselves. By fostering a culture of safety, we can minimise risks and create an environment where quality care thrives. Key strategies for improving patient safety and care To deliver exceptional care while safeguarding patients, healthcare systems must adopt evidence-based practices and innovative solutions. Here are some critical strategies to enhance patient safety: 1. Effective communication Clear and open communication among healthcare teams is vital. Miscommunication can lead to errors, such as administering the wrong medication or misinterpreting a patient’s condition. Standardised tools like SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) can improve handoffs and ensure critical information is shared accurately. 2. Robust training and education Continuous professional development ensures that healthcare workers stay updated on best practices and emerging technologies. Training programmes should emphasise error prevention, infection control and patient engagement. Empowering staff with knowledge builds confidence and competence in delivering safe care. 3. Leveraging technology Technology plays a transformative role in patient safety. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) reduce documentation errors, while barcode medication administration systems help verify medications before they reach patients. Additionally, artificial intelligence tools can predict risks, such as sepsis, enabling early interventions. 4. Patient empowerment Patients are active partners in their care. Encouraging them to ask questions, understand their treatment plans and report concerns fosters shared decision making. Educating patients about their medications and procedures can prevent errors and enhance adherence. 5. Creating a culture of safety A blame-free environment encourages healthcare workers to report errors or near-misses without fear of retribution. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) can identify systemic issues and drive improvements. Leadership must champion safety as a core value, setting the tone for the entire organisation. The role of compassion in patient care While systems and protocols are essential, the human element of care cannot be overlooked. Compassionate care builds trust and promotes healing. Listening to patients, respecting their dignity and addressing their fears create a therapeutic environment. When patients feel valued, they are more likely to engage in their treatment plans and communicate openly, reducing the risk of errors. Challenges and the path forward Despite progress, challenges like understaffing, resource constraints and burnout continue to threaten patient safety across the world. Addressing these requires investment in workforce development, equitable resource allocation and mental health support for healthcare workers. Collaboration between governments, healthcare institutions and communities is crucial to overcoming these barriers. Looking ahead, the integration of data analytics, telemedicine, and patient-reported outcomes will further revolutionise safety and care. By embracing innovation while staying grounded in empathy, we can build a healthcare system that is both safe and compassionate. A call to action Patient safety and care are shared responsibilities. As healthcare professionals, we must commit to continuous improvement, learning from mistakes and advocating for our patients. As patients, we should actively participate in our care and hold systems accountable. Together, we can create a future where every patient receives safe, high-quality care. Let’s work hand in hand to make patient safety not just a goal, but a reality. -
EventuntilJoin the Patients Association for a candid conversation with Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as he shares his vision for rebuilding a trusted approach to regulation. Sir Julian will reflect on the challenges ahead and the opportunity for change and to restore confidence. Hosted by Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, this webinar offers a unique chance to hear directly from Sir Julian about his approach to leadership, transparency, and driving improvement. It takes place ahead of our Patient Partnership Week (30th June - 4th July 2025), a week dedicated to highlighting the importance of shared decision-making and championing patient power and agency. Whether you're a healthcare provider, patient advocate, policymaker or someone who uses care services, book your free place. Register
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Content ArticleTo raise decision quality, non-medical options must be considered. Anna Dixon, MP and health policy expert, and Connie Jennings, director of stronger communities for the Walsall Housing Group, share insights with the hosts of The Choice podcast .
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Content ArticleIn November 2023 the British Medical Association (BMA) established a reporting portal for doctors and medical students to share concerns regarding the deployment of physician and anaesthesia associates in both primary and secondary care. This report includes all submissions received by February 2025 that concern patient safety. This report presents evidence of doctor substitution, doctors being coerced or pressured into signing prescriptions or ionising radiation requests for patients of whom they have no knowledge, examples of doctors losing out on basic skills training and situations where neither the public nor other healthcare staff know the role or competencies of physician and anaesthesia associates. It also highlights examples of where harm has come to patients, or been narrowly avoided only by subsequent intervention from a doctor.
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When someone needs a joint replacement, there are many factors that affect how well they will respond, how quickly they will recover from the procedure and the potential risks of surgery. Patient complexity is the term used to describe these factors and includes other health conditions, sometimes called co-morbidities, as well as local risk factors related to the specific joint needing to be replaced. In this interview, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Sunny Deo and engineer and founder of TCC-Casemix Matthew Bacon, discuss how new technology is allowing surgeons to more accurately predict the surgical risk and outcomes for patients having knee replacement surgery. They describe how a new approach to data modelling is allowing the orthopaedic team at Great Western Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to more accurately assess complexity for individual patients. This has benefits for patient care and outcomes, theatre productivity and the development of pathways that are more patient-centred. They also highlight some patient safety issues associated with elective surgical hubs, which were set up to deal with high volume low complexity patients, including the deprioritising of more complex patients who may be at greatest need of surgery. Finally, they discuss the applicability of this approach to other specialties and areas of healthcare. Read more about clinical complexity in joint replacement surgery in this presentation by Sunny Presentation - Overview of clinical complexity by Sunny Deo.pdf -
Content ArticleSara Riggare has had Parkinson's disease for nearly forty years. In this BMJ blog, she highlights the importance of trust and dialogue when making treatment decisions. Sara describes a recent interaction with a doctor to illustrate why listening to patients' concerns and answering their questions is vital to building mutual trust.
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ECRI: Top 10 patient safety concerns 2025
Patient Safety Learning posted an article in International patient safety
ECRI's Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns 2025 highlights the most pressing safety challenges facing both patients and staff in the coming year. This report not only identifies these critical issues but also provides actionable recommendations to address and mitigate them. The list for 2025: Risks of dismissing patient, family, and caregiver concerns. Insufficient governance of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare The wide availability and viral spread of medical misinformation: Empowering patients through health literacy. Medical error and delay in care resulting from cybersecurity breaches. Unique healthcare challenges in caring for veterans. The growing threat of substandard and falsified drugs. Diagnostic error: The big three—cancers, major vascular events and infections. Persistence of healthcare-associated infections in long-term care facilities. Inadequate communication and coordination during discharge. Deteriorating community pharmacy working conditions contribute to medication errors and compromise patient and staff safety. -
Content ArticleThere are many definitions of therapeutic empathy, which sometimes contradict each other. This leads to variation in how the concept is practiced, taught, and researched. This study analysed therapeutic empathy definitions, finding six common components: exploring understanding shared understanding feeling therapeutic action maintaining boundaries.
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Content ArticleThe Self-Care Forum and Imperial College London's Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU) collaborated on a major research project to study people’s perspectives on self-care. The ‘Living Self-Care Survey’ collected data from 3,255 UK residents including 227 health & care professionals. This infographic shows five key messages from the research.
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Content ArticleIn this opinion piece for the BMJ, Stephanie O’Donohue explains how a collaborative dialogue between clinician and patient can make a huge difference to patient experiences of gynaecology procedures. With a focus on pain, Stephanie draws on her own experiences, both positive and negative, to illustrate the value of shared-decision making.
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EventuntilHealthcare professionals are experts in assessing, diagnosis and treating healthcare conditions. Decision-making about treatment is multi-faceted – there are roles (and responsibilities) for the healthcare professionals and for the patient. How do healthcare professionals use their experience and expertise to decide clinically, what treatment to offer to the patient? From the offer, how is a decision taken as to which treatment will be provided? Join Bevan Brittan for this session with Parishil Patel KC from 39 Essex Chambers who will consider: The two-stage process in decision-making about treatment: The treatment offer(s) Which treatment offer(s) to provide When to obtain a second opinion? What if the clinical decision as to what treatment is on offer is disputed? Article 2 obligations when making a clinical decision not to (continue to) offer a life-sustaining treatment. Parishil Patel KC has extensive experience of: ECHR issues in domestic courts and advising on human rights in the policy context. Advising and acting for and against public bodies in judicial review claims including claims brought challenging local and central government policy. Register
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Content ArticleThis study looked at attitudes towards, and perceptions of, participating in clinical trials among patients with cancer and their relatives. It explored what factors are associated with their willingness or hesitation to engage. The researchers carried out a survey of 978 patients with cancer and their relatives in Turkey. They found that willingness to participate and knowledge about clinical trials were limited and highlight the existence of significant gaps in understanding and persistent concerns about participation.
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Content ArticleIn late 2024, members of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) innovation and patient safety leadership teams facilitated a focus group with health care safety leaders. They discussed a timely question: What are the challenges, lessons learned and areas for continued research related to artificial intelligence (AI) for safety and quality measurement? The focus group of patient safety experts believe that AI can improve patient safety through automation and optimised workflows if it is implemented with a quality- and safety-first mindset and not substituted for human clinical judgment.
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Content ArticleIn a dynamic healthcare environment, patient safety is crucial. A "Conscious Actions Reduce Errors" (C.A.R.E) approach is needed to safeguard safety and reduce medical errors. The dual process theory highlights two thinking modes: intuitive (fast, automatic) and analytical (slow, deliberate). Intuitive thinking, though quick and often effective, can lead to cognitive biases like anchoring and availability heuristics. A C.A.R.E approach incorporating tools like the TWED checklist (Threat, What if I'm wrong? What else?, Evidence, Dispositional factors) and Shisa Kanko (Japanese method of pointing and calling) can help to improve decision-making and action precision in clinical settings.
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Content ArticleIn this interview, Dana Edelson, an expert in cardiac resuscitation at the University of Chicago, discusses how hospitals can best use early warning score tools to risk stratify patients—without adding to clinicians’ alarm fatigue. Dana recently co-authored a study which compared six different early warning scores designed to recognise clinical deterioration in hospitalised patients, including three proprietary AI tools.
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Content ArticleThis open access book explores epistemic justice in mental healthcare, bringing together perspectives from psychologists, psychiatrists, philosophers, activists and lived experience researchers. Through eight chapters, authors identify threats to the agency of people who hear voices, experience depression, have psychotic symptoms, live with dementia, are diagnosed with personality disorders, and face serious mental health issues while receiving palliative care. Considering the power asymmetries in clinical interactions, where patients are vulnerable and healthcare professionals are uniquely placed to offer support, this book reaffirms the importance of recognizing patients as agents and collaborators. Topics covered include trust in the therapeutic relationship, dignity at the end of life, the social dimension of health, stigma in an acute ward, the harm caused by biases and stereotypes, the role of clinical communication and the promise of digital health.
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Content ArticleArtificial intelligence-based clinical decision support systems (AI-CDSS) hold promise for improving patient outcomes. This review identified 26 articles on the effectiveness of AI-CDSS on patient outcomes. The content analysis revealed four themes: early detection and disease diagnosis, enhanced decision-making, medication errors, and clinicians' perspectives. Only three of the interventions, which were within the theme of early detection and disease diagnosis, were categorized as highly effective. Patient privacy, data security, and health equity were mentioned as continuing concerns.
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Content ArticleOver 75% of diagnostic errors in ambulatory care result from breakdowns in patient-clinician communication. Encouraging patients to speak up and ask questions has been recommended as one strategy to mitigate these failures. This scoping review in the Journal of Patient Safety aimed to identify, summarise and thematically map questions patients are recommended to ask during ambulatory encounters along the diagnostic process. This is the first step in a larger study to co-design a patient-facing question prompt list for patients to use throughout the diagnostic process.
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Parkinson’s UK Tech Guide
Sam posted an article in Neurological conditions
Parkinson’s UK created the Tech Guide so that people with Parkinson’s, and their families, friends and carers, can make the right decisions for themselves about all the devices and apps that claim to be able to help improve their quality of life. To do this, they provide trusted reviews based on the lived experience of people with Parkinson’s, and maintain a catalogue of the various products that are on the market. This is backed up with information about Parkinson’s and evidence-based articles that will help you decide what’s right for you, in your unique circumstances. -
Content ArticleWe all communicate multiple times a day but could we be getting better results? From a simple text or phone call, to a job interview or big presentation, the way we express ourselves and get our point across can really matter. On the Communicating podcast, Ros Atkins and his guests reveal the best ways to communicate and how simple changes in the way we make our point can be really effective. In this episode, Ros speaks to Dr Rob Elias, a kidney consultant at King's College Hospital in South London. Ros and Dr Elias discuss the role of empathy in communication, the need to calculate how much information someone is able to digest, and the need to make effective communication a priority.
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