What processes do hospitals utilize to make sure patients receive the right care, such as medication, surgical procedure, etc.?

The Joint Commission, an independent organization that accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations in the United States, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have compiled several core measures targeted to specific conditions such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI), pneumonia, congestive heart failure, surgical care, and stroke. Within each category, specific best practices have been identified as resulting in the best patient outcomes. The employees and medical staff at Sonora Regional Medical Center are very engaged in making sure these core measures are followed as appropriate for each patient. For example, for each AMI patient, there are several core measures to follow, from administering aspirin on arrival to prescribing a beta blocker at discharge. By ensuring these measures are followed, we can reduce the risk of complications and reoccurrences and provide the best quality care for our patients.

In addition, there are many ways our staff ensures patients are receiving the right care. When administering medications, diagnostic tests or other treatments, two patient identifiers are used to make sure the right patient is receiving the right treatment. Staff members also use intentional communication to introduce patients to other staff members, provide information about the patient’s condition and progress, explain the reason for a specific test or treatment, and provide reassuring information about their expertise. This exceptional level of communication is not only proven to lower the anxiety of patients and their families, but also helps ensure patients are receiving the right care.