Med Center Health Safety Snapshot – June

Your Quick Look into Safety at Med Center Health

At Med Center Health, safety and high reliability are more than just goals. They are our promise to every person who comes through our doors. This Safety Snapshot highlights a Joint Commission National Performance Goal focused on patients’ rights to safe, informed care.

Safe Informed Care

The Joint Commission emphasizes that safe, informed care requires organizations to ensure patients and their families are actively involved in care decisions, receive clear and accurate information, and understand their treatment options to support safe, effective care.  

What This Means for Daily Practice

  • Provide clear, accurate information
    • Use plain language and avoid medical jargon to ensure patients and families understand their condition, treatment, and plan of care
  • Engage patients in decision-making
    • Involve patients and families in discussions about care options, risks, benefits and alternatives whenever possible
  • Verify understanding
    • Use techniques such as teach-back to confirm that patients understand instructions and education provided
    • Ask open-ended questions such as, “What questions do you have?”
  • Ensure informed consent
    • Confirm that patients have received the necessary information and have had an opportunity to ask questions before procedures or treatments
  • Use interpreter services when needed
    • Utilize qualified interpreter services to ensure accurate communication for patients with limited English proficiency
  • Communicate across transitions of care
    • Ensure important information is shared clearly during bedside handoffs and at discharge to support safe continuation of care

Why It Matters

When patients are informed and involved in their care, safety improves, errors are reduced, and outcomes are better. Clear communication and shared decision-making help prevent misunderstandings and support safer care for every patient.

Together, through clear communication and patient engagement, we make safety a reality. Thank you for being an essential part of our culture of safety!

Reliably yours,

Denise Kaetzel, MHA, MSN, RN, CENP – Executive Director of Quality and Patient Experience

Kaitlin Banasiewicz, PhD, MSN, RN – Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Research

«
»