This is #MedSafetyWeek, on the theme of “Who can report?” Learn how patients and healthcare workers can contribute to pharmacovigilance by reporting side effects and adverse drug reactions:
The Patient Safety Authority’s multiple award–winning, peer-reviewed journal has more than 75K readers in 174 countries—and counting! Every article is free to read and there are no author fees for submissions. Read the journal at patientsafetyj.com and send us your best work for publication.
PATIENT SAFETY is currently open to research articles, quality improvement studies, focused reviews, patient perspectives, commentaries, data analyses, and other manuscripts that can help advance safety in healthcare.
October is #HealthLiteracyMonth, which highlights the importance of patients being able to read, understand, and act on health information. One way to improve #healthliteracy is through better communication between healthcare providers and patients.
We have a tool to help: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵’𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯 offers tips to help patients and clinicians share information and ask the right questions. Download this pocket guide at http://patientsafety.pa.gov/PATIENTSCONSUMERS/Pages/Home.aspx and share it with your loved ones.
If you missed our #PeerReviewWeek webinar yesterday covering everything you always wanted to know about peer review for scientific journals, here's a recording of the presentations by PATIENT SAFETY managing editor Caitlyn Allen, MPH, and author/editor/peer reviewer Zane Wolf, PhD, RN, professor of Nursing Programs and dean emerita at the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, La Salle University.
Please watch and share!
Sepsis (sometimes called “blood poisoning”) is when your body goes haywire trying to fight an infection. This extreme response can be life-threatening, but the sooner your care team finds it, the easier it is for them to treat it.
Sepsis can be difficult to diagnosis because a lot of the symptoms are similar to symptoms of other diseases. However, these are the most common ones, so tell your doctor if you have any of them: fever, feeling extra tired (“fatigue”), nausea, or a fast heartbeat.
Read THE PATIENT'S COMPANION for more information on #sepsis, how to prevent it, and how to make sure it’s treated as quickly as possible: http://patientsafety.pa.gov/PATIENTSCONSUMERS/Pages/Home.aspx #SepsisAwarenessMonth
Today is Falls Prevention Awareness Day. According to the CDC, one-fourth of Americans aged 65+ suffer a fall each year, resulting in over 3 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually. Learn about fall risks and how to prevent them at http://patientsafety.pa.gov/pst/Pages/Falls/hm.aspx#.
A “chronic condition” is a condition or disease that lasts at least a year and needs ongoing medical care and/or affects your daily life. Some common chronic conditions are high blood pressure (“hypertension”), diabetes (sometimes called “bad blood” or “high blood sugar”), heart disease, or low iron levels in your blood (“anemia”).
Read THE PATIENT'S COMPANION for more information on chronic conditions, including what questions to ask your care team and how to support a loved one after getting a diagnosis:
http://patientsafety.pa.gov/PATIENTSCONSUMERS/Pages/Home.aspx
Sometimes it seems like patients and healthcare providers aren’t on the same page. That’s why we wrote a handbook to help everyone in the care team speak the same language. http://patientsafety.pa.gov/PATIENTSCONSUMERS/Pages/Home.aspx
THE PATIENT'S COMPANION answers questions like, "How can I help my care team make the right diagnosis?"
Sometimes it can be difficult to know right away what is wrong. Think about trying to tell whether you have a cold, the flu, or allergies. Your care team is trying their best to find the answer as quickly as they can. The more information you give them, the easier it will be for them to figure out what might be making you sick.
For more tips and information to help you at your next healthcare encounter, download a copy of our pocket guide at
http://patientsafety.pa.gov/PATIENTSCONSUMERS/Pages/Home.aspx
PATIENT SAFETY is currently open to research articles, quality improvement studies, focused reviews, patient perspectives, commentaries, data analyses, and other manuscripts that can help advance safety in healthcare.
Read the journal and send your best work to https://patientsafetyj.com/
Do you have a manuscript related to patient safety? Send it to the Patient Safety Authority’s award-winning journal today and have it read by 70,000+ people worldwide: patientsafetyj.com
Accepted articles are published ~14 weeks from submission. There are NO FEES for authors or readers.
Disposing of Unused Pills
Today is #WorldPatientSafetyDay. World Health Organization (WHO) established this annual awareness day to bring together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, healthcare leaders, and policy-makers around the globe to show their commitment to patient safety.
In recognition of this year's theme, "Medication Without Harm," Institute for Safe Medication Practices fellow and emergency room nurse, Michelle Bell, and medication safety officer for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Sharon Camperchioli, answer patient questions about medication. First up: "How do I dispose of unused pills safely?"
Watch and share this video and read the full medication safety Q&A at https://patientsafetyj.com/index.php/patientsaf/article/view/med-safety-q-and-a
What is sepsis? Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that happens when your body reacts to harmful germs in your blood or other tissues. Without timely treatment, it can cause organ damage and death.
Almost any infection can lead to sepsis, including the flu, a urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, or even from a scrape or splinter. You're more likely to get sepsis if you're elderly, a child, or have a chronic health condition like diabetes, cancer, or lung or kidney disease.
Don’t miss sepsis! Learn the warning signs: http://patientsafety.pa.gov/PATIENTSCONSUMERS/Pages/Sepsis.aspx
In this month's newsletter, learn why buying cheaper drugs from online pharmacies might be too good to be true.
If you're worried about monkeypox, know the symptoms to help avoid a missed or delayed diagnosis.
With ticks and related diseases a growing problem all over the country, a new Lyme vaccine for humans is being tested. Find out when you can get your shot.
You can also read about the many factors contributing to mental illness, how to prepare for dental surgery, research underway to help kids getting chemo, and where to find relief from menopause.
Read and share these stories:http://patientsafety.pa.gov/newsletter/Documents/What%20You%20Need%20to%20Know%20-%20Aug%202022.pdf
Are you tastier than others for mosquitoes? If your blood type is O, you may be at the top of their menu! The PSA's Caitlyn Allen shared this tidbit with Good Day PA on ABC27, as well as vital tips to help you avoid mosquito bites and stop scratching this summer.
Publishing about your quality improvement project can help others learn from the experience and replicate its results—a terrific way to make an impact on patient safety outside your organization.
Our free Master Class Writing Workshop in Quality Improvement Studies will teach you to draft a publishable manuscript about your project. The skills and resources you come away with will help in writing future QI studies, and you can teach them to your colleagues so they can share their work too!
Learn more and apply at https://patientsafetyj.com/index.php/patientsaf/workshops. Applications must be received by Friday, August 5.
#}