The power of prevention: sustainable solutions for patient safety

Adverse events (AEs) in healthcare – incidents where patients suffer harm as a result of medical care rather than their underlying condition – remain a persistent and costly problem. Preventable adverse events can range from medication errors and infections to falls and pressure ulcers, all of which cause significant human and financial costs.

However, by focusing on preventive measures, healthcare organisations can effectively avoid adverse events and improve patient safety. Simultaneously, this reduces the burden on healthcare systems.

The cost of adverse events

Studies suggest that up to 15 % of inpatient healthcare costs are spent on treating healthcare-associated harm¹. Adverse events can occur at any stage of patient care, with the most common types including:

• Medication errors
• Healthcare-associated infections
• Pressure ulcers
• Patient falls
• Venous thromboembolism (VTE)
• Surgical procedures
• Diagnostic errors and failure to recognise patient deterioration

Each of these events increases patient suffering and can prolong hospital stays. Healthcare-associated harm can even result in death. For example, of all sepsis cases managed in hospitals, 23.6 % were found to be healthcare-associated, and approximately 24.4 % of the affected patients lost their lives as a result².

Comprehensive approach to patient safety

More than 50 % of adverse events in healthcare are considered preventable³. By implementing improved policies and practices, many adverse events can be systematically avoided, with prevention costs generally being significantly lower than the costs associated with harm¹.

Effective prevention strategies include¹:

1. System-level strategies that focus on broad, overarching policies affecting the entire healthcare system, including safety standards, public reporting, and professional education and training.
2. Organizational initiatives that involve institutional changes, such as clinical governance systems, fostering a safety culture, and implementing integrated digital solutions.
3. Clinical interventions that target the clinical setting, focusing on frontline healthcare workers and processes, including protocols and checklists.

Together, these prevention strategies form the foundation of a comprehensive, system-wide improvement approach. By addressing issues at all levels – clinical, organizational, and system levels-, healthcare systems can ensure that patient safety efforts are interconnected, leading to sustainable improvements across the healthcare system.¹

Conclusion: Prevention is of vital importance

Reducing adverse events in healthcare is not just a matter of better practice, but a necessity to ensure patient safety and the efficient use of healthcare resources. By adopting proven preventive measures, healthcare organisations can save lives, reduce costs and improve overall outcomes.

Want to learn more about how your organisation can minimise patient harm? Download our eBook on the power of prevention in healthcare for in-depth insights and practical strategies.

Sources:

1. OECD Health Working Papers, No. 96 (2017): The economics of patient safety.
2. WHO (2023): Patient safety. Retrieved 21.8.2024.
3. Panagioti et al. (2019). Prevalence, severity, and nature of preventable patient harm across medical care settings: systematic review and meta-analysis.

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