Atencion primaria
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Primary care is an essential foundation for the global response to COVID-19 pandemic. It plays a significant role in the health care response: identifying and triaging potential COVID-19 cases, making an early diagnosis, helping vulnerable people cope with their anxiety about the virus, strengthening compliance with prevention and protection measures, and reducing the demand for hospital services. ⋯ We also present that of a European country, United Kingdom, less experienced in pandemic management, but with universal and highly developed primary care with great social recognition. Finally, we point out some crucial learning for future pandemic management, highlighting the crucial need to improve the relationship between primary care and public health to improve pandemics response.
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New information technologies have transformed the way care is delivered within health services, permeating almost every aspect of health care. As the complexity of the system increases, it becomes more difficult to work optimally without the assistance of new technologies. Although its implementation represents a breakthrough, either because of the advancement involved in the proper use of any technology in health care, or because of the development of specific applications that improve patient safety, other factors such as incorrect design, implementation and poor maintenance, inadequate training, along with overconfidence and dependency, can make technologies compromise patient safety. This article describes the beneficial effects, and those that are not so, of the introduction in our country of the electronic medical record and the electronic prescription on the healthcare quality and safety.
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The 74th World Health Assembly adopted in May 2021 the "Global Patient Safety Action Plan: 2021-2030" to enhance patient safety as an essential component in the design, procedures and performance evaluation of health systems worldwide. It is a strategic plan that guides country governments, health sector entities, health organisations and the World Health Organisation secretariat on how to implement the assembly's patient safety resolution. Deployment of the plan will strengthen the quality and safety of health systems worldwide by spanning the entire continuum of people's health care from diagnosis to treatment and care, reducing the likelihood of harm in the course of care. ⋯ The deployment of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan in primary care is therefore a high-priority health policy action. The Action Plan is structured into 6 strategic objectives with 35 strategic actions. We present an analysis of the strategic actions regarding healthcare organizations and the challenges ahead for their particular deployment in primary health care settings.
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To analyse and compare the epidemiology of patient safety incidents reported in Primary Health Care, before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ During the pandemic, fewer patient safety incidents have been reported, but proportionally more adverse events, most of which are preventable. The professional himself becomes the main contributing factor.
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Patient-centered approach to care and regulatory advances developed in recent years have promoted patient involvement in decision-making about diagnostic tests and treatments. In other aspects, such as participating in their own safety, there is still a lot to do. Until recently, the patient has been considered as a simple health services receiver, not as an active part of the system, much less as a safety barrier against failures and errors that occur in health care. ⋯ It is not about holding them responsible, but about facilitating and promoting their participation by reinforcing their safety during the care process. The health system must be committed, and the patient informed and trained. We provide tools and online resources to apply in primary care.