A report to the Prince Albert Parkland Health Authority board of directors at a regular meeting Nov. 9 in Prince Albert outlined steps taken to reduce medication errors.
The Managing Medications Team, led by Karen Kaptein, director of Pharmacy, and Barb Levesque, assistant director Acute Care, provided a report on the team's activities to improve the management of medications and reduce the risk for medication errors.
The report outlined efforts to improve staff and physician access to policies and procedures, as well as the safe prescribing of medications. The Managing Medications Team is also involved in the revision of the discharge care plan to improve communication between all of the agencies that are part of a client's care team to provide a more client-focused approach to self-management.
One of the region's priorities for patient safety and quality improvement is implementation of medication reconciliation processes at each step of the patient's journey, the team explains. Medication reconciliation on admission is fully implemented at Victoria Hospital and Shellbrook Hospital. The results of a second quarter audit showed an increase in successful medication reconciliations, but there is room for improvement, the report indicates
Gary Dickson, Saskatchewan's Information and Privacy Commission, made a presentation about the legislation governing privacy of health information and responsibilities of health information trustees. Health trustees must ensure private information is protected and individuals have access to their own information. He outlined four predictable problem areas, including:
Access by patients to their own personal health information;
Client consent;
Disclosure of personal health information to third parties; and
Security of personal health information.
Using one specific investigation about improper access of personal health information, Dickson said there are some common themes evident in many investigations involving health care providers who violate the legislation. He said the biggest threat is carelessness and curiosity, and that while audit capacity is important there is a need for ongoing proactive campaigns closer to the point of service.
Prince Albert Parkland Health Region has an operating surplus of $133,891 for the month of September. This brings the year to date surplus to $1,884,207. The forecasted surplus to March 31, 2011 is $1.542 million, which is approximately $500,000 more than planned in the budget. After the required transfers to the capital fund for mortgage payments, long-term care reserves and the energy performance loan payments, the region is forecast a surplus of $505,645.
The next Regional Health Authority meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 14 in the main boardroom at 1521- 6th Ave. W., Prince Albert. The meeting begins at 1 p.m.
