The Effects of To Err Is Human in Nursing Practice

The 1999 landmark study titled “To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System” highlighted the unacceptably high incidence of U.S. medical errors and put forth recommendations to improve patient safety. Since its publication, the recommendations in “To Err Is Human’” have guided significant changes in nursing practice in the United States. In this Discussion, you will review these recommendations and consider the role of health information technology in helping address concerns presented in the report. To prepare: Review the summary of “To Err Is Human” presented in the Plawecki and Amrhein article found in this week’s Learning Resources. Consider the following statement: “The most significant barrier to improving patient safety identified in “To Err Is Human”is a “lack of awareness of the extent to which errors occur daily in all health care settings and organizations (Wakefield, 2008).” Review “The Quality Chasm Series: Implications for Nursing” focusing on Table 3: “Simple Rules for the 21st Century Health Care System.” Consider your current organization or one with which you are familiar. Reflect on one of the rules where the “current rule” is still in operation in the organization and consider another instance in which the organization has effectively transitioned to the new rule. Reference: Wakefield, M. K. (2008). The Quality Chasm series: Implications for nursing. In R. G. Hughes (Ed.), Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses (Vol. 1, pp. 47–66). Rockville, MD: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from http://www(dot)ahrq(dot)gov/qual/nurseshdbk/docs/WakefieldM_QCSIN.pdf • Institute of Medicine. (1999). To err is human: Building a safer health system. Retrieved from http://iom(dot)edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/1999/To-Err-is-Human/To%20Err%20is%20Human%201999%20%20report%20brief.pdf • Kohn, L. T., Corrigan, J. M., & Donaldson, M.S. (Eds.). (2000). To err is human: Building a safer health system. Washington, D. C.: Institute of Medicine. Retrieved from the National Academies Press website: https://download(dot)nap(dot)edu/catalog.php?record_id=9728 Wakefield, M. K. (2008). The Quality Chasm series: Implications for nursing. In R. G. Hughes (Ed.), Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses (Vol. 1, pp. 47–66). Rockville, MD: U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. • Pages 1–12 These 12 pages highlight the issues raised by the Quality Chasm Series and examine their long-term implications for nursing. The text reviews external drivers of safety and quality, design principles for safe systems, and guidelines for health care redesign.