Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety / Joint Commission Resources
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Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf · Jun 2019
Observational StudyEvaluating the Impact of Auto-Calculation Settings on Opioid Prescribing at an Academic Medical Center.
Overprescribing of opioids is a key contributor to the opioid epidemic, which has led to a substantial increase in overdose deaths. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the discontinuation of a dispense quantity automatic calculation function on prescribing of as needed (PRN) opioids. ⋯ This study suggests that removing the autocalculation functionality reduced the number of opioid units ordered. In addition, using a default dispense quantity for PRN opioid prescriptions may decrease the number of opioid dispense units per prescription.
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Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf · Jun 2019
Reducing the Use of Ad Hoc Interpreters at a Safety-Net Health Care System.
Providing effective communication assistance is critical to ensuring that patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) receive safe and high-quality health care services. Health care providers often use ad hoc interpreters such as patients' family members or friends to communicate with LEP patients; however, this practice presents risks to communication accuracy, patient safety, quality of care, and privacy. ⋯ Changing practice to reduce the use of ad hoc interpreters in a large multisite organization is challenging and takes sustained and prolonged effort. Strong institutional policies and site-specific outreach can help stimulate change, and partnership with leadership champions is critical to success. CHA's experience provides strategies and lessons that can be leveraged by other institutions seeking to improve care for LEP patients.