Patient safety is a key quality feature of our daily work. We work in accordance with the latest findings of medical associations, nursing science and the recommendations of the Patient Safety Action Alliance. On this basis, we work together with a team of internal and external experts to develop sensible measures that are integrated into the care and treatment process and offer our patients a high level of safety. Within our healthcare network, three patient safety officers are responsible for this important topic.
The following measures, among others, are part of our safety concept:
Patient identification bracelet
Wearing the patient wristband is not compulsory. However, we recommend it for your safety.
Patient safety starts as soon as you enter our hospital. Every patient who is admitted to one of our hospitals receives a patient identification bracelet. Wearing it is not mandatory, but we strongly recommend that every patient wears it.
The wristband enables our staff to clearly identify the patient before each treatment step (e.g. during operations, administration of medication, examinations, etc.). This is particularly important if the patient is unable to provide information about their identity themselves, for example because they are under anesthesia for an operation, have fainted or suffer from an illness such as dementia.
The following information is noted on the wristband so that our patients can be clearly identified:
Full name,
the date of birth and
the number under which the patient is registered with us (case number).
This enables us to ensure that the necessary measures are carried out on the right patient.
However, do not be surprised if our staff ask you for your name even if you are wearing a patient wristband. This is also purely a security measure, a kind of double check to ensure your identity.
As soon as your hospital stay is over, we will dispose of the wristband in accordance with data protection regulations.
Checklists
Checklists and the dual control principle help us to make your stay with us as safe as possible.
In addition to patient identification wristbands, we use standardized checklists in many areas in order to maintain our high safety standards. In the operating theater, for example. The checklist provides our employees with clear guidelines that must be checked before, during and after a surgical procedure. For example, the patient's identity, the procedure to be performed, the body area to be operated on (including left and right), as well as possible risks arising from the patient's previous illnesses, for example, are checked again. After the operation and before closing the surgical wound, the checklist is used to ensure that the surgical material used is complete. This prevents materials from remaining in the body.
However, we do not only work with standardized checklists in the operating theatre. Other lists are also used to check the administration of medication, materials for emergency care, etc.
Drug therapy safety
Medication is important for the success of treatment for many diseases. However, the well-known saying "the dose makes the poison" applies here. For this reason, we use standardized procedures to ensure that our patients only receive the medication prescribed to them and that they receive it in the correct dose and frequency. For example, medication is provided according to the four-eyes principle.
Antibiotic stewardship
Antibiotic stewardship also plays a major role in our hospitals. This deals with the targeted use of antibiotics. After all, not every antibiotic helps with every bacterium in the same way. It is therefore important to use the right antibiotics to avoid unnecessarily burdening patients with unsuitable antibiotics and to curb antibiotic resistance.
Fall prevention
The risk of falling is particularly high among older and sick people. We therefore attach particular importance to coordinated fall prevention. This also includes educating our patients and, if necessary, their relatives. You can actively prevent falls by always wearing sturdy shoes and using glasses, hearing aids and aids, for example. The nursing staff will explain the routes around the ward and your patient room, how to use the bed controls, telephone, lights and call system. We encourage our patients to ask for assistance if they are unsteady in their movements and help them after operations and procedures so that they do not get up without help.
Member of the Patient Safety Action Alliance
Our affiliated hospitals Klinikum Frankfurt Höchst, Krankenhaus Bad Soden and Krankenhaus Hofheim are members of the Aktionsbündnis Patientensicherheit (APS). The APS is the national platform for improving patient safety in healthcare. It was founded with the participation of representatives of the healthcare professions, their associations and patient organizations in Germany. It operates under the premise The most important instrument for improving patient safety is learning together from mistakes. You can find more information on the website of the Patient Safety Action Alliance.
