Healthcare settings are supposed to be at the forefront in making sure that the services which they provide to patients are of high quality and also meet the minimum requirements of patient safety. Such a realization is also extended towards the prevention of adverse conditions which are considered to have severe adverse effects on the wellbeing of individuals receiving inpatient care (Joice et al., 2013). These conditions have come to be referred to as ‘never events’ since even though they are serious, they can be easily prevented. Additionally, these conditions have been found to be of significant concerns to healthcare providers. Some conditions which fall under never events include pressure ulcers, air embolism, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, falls, and objects left in after surgery and blood incompatibility.
Furthermore, by the CMS reimbursements rules requiring healthcare organizations to identify any adverse events while a patient is under inpatient care, it plays a significant role in making sure that such organizations take part in realizing patient safety. Finally, the need to report any concerns regarding severe psychological or physiological injuries on the victim has been helpful in ensuring that care that they receive is in line with their specific needs (AHRQ Patient Safety Network, 2014). In addition to reporting, the CMS reimbursement rule of apologizing to the patient and requiring healthcare organizations to waive the treatment costs associated with such never events has been instrumental in making sure that patients are satisfied with the services which they receive.
References
AHRQ Patient Safety Network. (2014). Never Events | AHRQ Patient Safety Network. Retrieved from https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primers/primer/3/never-events
Joice, G. A., Deibert, C. M., Kates, M., Spencer, B. A., & McKiernan, J. M. (2013). “Never events”: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services complications after radical cystectomy. Urology, 81(3), 527-532.
