Is it safe in Polish hospitals? The biggest challenges for Polish medical facilities.
Safety and quality are the key words for the healthcare system in Poland this year. Adopted the Law on Quality in Health Care and Patient Safety, which aims to improve the functioning of the health care system in terms of, among other things, safety, quality or authorisation, has been passed and accreditation of medical facilities. Will this actually be the case? Experts from the Hospital Safety Coalition answered these and other questions: Dr. n. med. and n. o zdr. Paweł Witt - Chairman of the Expert Council of the Coalition for Hospital Safety, Mariola Łodzińska, M.Sc. - President of the Supreme Council of Nurses and Midwives, Anna Szczypta, Ph.D. - National Consultant in Epidemiological Nursing, and Maria Kołatek, Ph. Board member from the Polish Association of Epidemiological Nurses. The experts unanimously agreed that medical facilities in Poland still need to improve in terms of safety, which is also clearly stated in the 2nd edition of the report "Safe hospital is safe patient", which was inaugurated during the debate. The data presented included both the use of safe equipment, the administration of cytotoxic drugs, the keeping of records of injuries and punctures or the provision of training for medical staff. The graphs and analyses presented are worrying, only 30% hospitals use only blunt needles for the preparation of medicines, only 27% facilities keep electronic records of injuries, and more than half of the hospitals do not use safety cannulas, which not only ensure the safety of the staff, but are also safer for the patient.
"When talking about patient safety, the safety of medical staff should not be forgotten. Data from the latest report 'A safe hospital is a safe patient' directly indicates on important safety-related aspects that medical facilities in Poland need to improve. If the level of safety in Polish hospitals is to be high, changes need to be continuously implemented, following the highest standards and recommendations." - comments Mariola Łodzińska, M.Sc., President of the Supreme Council of Nurses and Midwives.
Hospital Safety Coalition experts propose new solution - Integrated Hospital Safety Model
Healthcare workers are a particularly vulnerable group to, among other things, exposure to biological material, punctures and sharps injuries, contact with toxic drugs and stress. All these factors can result in patient safety also being compromised. The Coalition's experts have therefore announced an Integrated Hospital Model to address the biggest challenges to safety and quality in healthcare. All the key areas supported by the Hospital Safety Coalition have been included in the model, so it is geared towards eliminating risks including exposure to cytostatic drugs, punctures and injuries, and mental health risks for medical staff. It is essential to implement reliable and effective drug delivery procedures, regular training of medical staff and the use of safe equipment.
"The Integrated Safety Model for Hospitals is the Coalition Experts' response to the current state of safety in Polish medical facilities. It should be implemented at every level of hospital operation, from systemic solutions at the central system and regulatory level to medical teams and staff working in medical facilities." - adds dr n. med. o zdr. Paweł Witt Chairman of the Expert Council of the Hospital Safety Coalition.
The Coalition for Hospital Safety constantly wants to ensure the highest level of safety in Polish medical facilities, including medical staff and patients, which is why the 3rd edition of the Safe Hospital is Safe Patient certification will be launched early next year.The 2nd edition of the Safe Hospital is Safe Patient report is available to download at the link:
The Hospital Safety Coalition was established in 2021 with the main aim of increasing the safety of healthcare workers in the workplace by, among other things, promoting and encouraging hospitals to use safe medical equipment. The Coalition's main project is the 'Safe Hospital is Safe Patient' programme, which is joined by medical facilities that adhere to its recommendations. Patronage of the project is held by: The National Health Fund, the Patient Ombudsman, the Supreme Chamber of Nurses and Midwives, the Polish Federation of Hospitals, the Supreme Medical Chamber, the Polish Association of Epidemiological Nurses, the Polish Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Nurses, the Polish Society of Epidemiologists and Doctors of Infectious Diseases, the Polish Vascular Access Club, the Association of Hygiene in Healthcare, Polish Association of Private Hospitals, the Polish Pharmaceutical Society, the Supreme Pharmaceutical Chamber, the European Association of Clean Treatment, the Association of Healthy Polish Cities, the National Chamber of Laboratory Diagnosticians, the Polish Society of Microbiologists, the Polish Nursing Association, the National Trade Union of Physicians, the Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education and the Polish Society of Infusion Nursing.
