Delayed Breast Cancer Diagnosis after Insufficient Follow-up
Case Study
A lack of follow-up for a breast lump delayed a woman’s cancer diagnosis. The stage of the disease required a five-year treatment plan, resulting in a postponement of pregnancy.
Newsletter
5 Ways to Keep Behavioral Health Patients Safe, Delayed Breast Cancer Diagnosis, and more...
May 14, 2024
5 Ways to Keep Behavioral Health Patients Safe and Mitigate Risk
In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month and in a continuous effort to ensure the safe care of behavioral health patients, here are some key considerations as identified by the Emergency Medicine Behavioral Health Task Force, convened by CRICO’s AMC Patient Safety Organization:
- Equitable Care: Help foster a culture and environment that ensures that this patient population receives equal attention and resources; work to decrease biases
- Physical Environment: Be aware of defined spaces for safe and private evaluation and ongoing treatment
- Patient and Staff Safety: Regularly assess and communicate patient risk; know what is needed to maintain the safety of patients, visitors, and staff
- Initial Evaluation: Implement standardized processes to identify and assess behavioral health patients and promptly initiate an appropriate plan of care
- Medical Assessment: Document all collateral information; use standard documentation language for completion of medical assessments
For more details and recommendations, download Safety in the Emergency Department: Improving the Care of Behavioral Health Patients.
What went wrong?
What Went Wrong in this Medical Error Case?
Podcast
A multi-tasking nurse mistakenly administers the wrong drug to a woman in labor. Lessons from a medication error that led to hospital policy changes.
Physician Portal
Resources
The CRICO Insurance Program offers an array of insurance and risk prevention tools and resources to members of our community. We’re here to help create a safer care environment for you and your patients.
Study Highlights Need for Improvement of Patient Safety in Outpatient Settings
Press Release
Research led by Boston-area health care systems found that 7% of inpatients experienced at least one adverse event and 1.8% of inpatients experienced at least one preventable adverse event.
Newsletters
Check out these patient safety topics.
Ambulatory Safety Nets, ED Boarding, and Promoting Safety in Understaffed Departments
Newsletter
Insights April 2023
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Newsletter
Insights August 2022. Healing the Healer Documentary, Medical Malpractice Case Study, and EPL Insights
‘Off-hours’ Care Is Riskier, Patient Receives Wrong Blood Type, and More
Newsletter
Insights July 2023