A Study on Analysing Adherence to International Patient Safety Goals [1, 2, 6] in a Metropolitan Quaternary Care Centre

Abstract

Every year, low- and middle-income countries experience around 134 million adverse events within their healthcare systems, resulting in 2.6 million fatalities. This places a substantial strain on the economies of these countries and their healthcare spending. The International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) are modern initiatives set forth by the Joint Commission International (JCI) to enhance patient safety in healthcare organizations. These standards assist in avoiding or mitigating risks and eliminating mistakes to ensure that patient care remains safe and consistent. A cross-sectional study was carried out in a quaternary care facility located in a metropolitan area from May to June of the year 2024. A checklist was employed to assess compliance with IPSG-1, 2, and 6 across various subcategories, and data was gathered from 529 patients through a convenience sampling method. This research assesses adherence to International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) among various hospital departments. Notable compliance rates were recorded in specific areas, such as ID Band Compliance for Pediatrics Medicine and Surgery at 88% and 92.11%, respectively, and IPSG IPD Fall Risk Assessment for ENT at 90.91%. Additionally, several categories achieved perfect compliance rates, such as medication administration and transfer of patients from clinical areas to diagnostics. Conversely, considerable deficiencies were found in sample collection (Head & Neck Oncology: 42.86%), Formulae feed (Neurosurgery: 0%), and handover of the patient from Emergency to Clinical Area (Gynae Oncology: 0%). Although ENT showed reliable performance, there remains a need for improvement in certain areas. The results underscore specific opportunities for interventions aimed at boosting compliance and safeguarding patient safety. The facility emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring, staff training, and tailored strategies for regions that exhibited low compliance despite achieving good adherence to IPSG 1, 2, and 6.