Patient Safety Guidelines Flashcards

The DHA Patient Safety Framework includes which internationally recognized patient safety goals as mandatory standards for licensed facilities?

Answer: JCI International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) adopted and mandated by DHA

DHA has adopted JCI International Patient Safety Goals (IPSGs) as mandatory standards for all licensed healthcare facilities in Dubai. The IPSGs address the most critical patient safety risks: correct identification, communication, high-alert medications, surgery/procedure safety, infection prevention, and fall prevention.

Under DHA patient safety regulations, all healthcare facilities must have a functional incident reporting system. What is the primary goal of such a system?

Answer: To create a learning culture where incidents, near misses, and unsafe conditions are reported and analyzed to prevent recurrence

The primary purpose of incident reporting systems is to build a learning culture for patient safety improvement. By analyzing incidents (including near-misses where no harm occurred), organizations identify system failures and implement preventive changes. A punitive culture suppresses reporting and hides safety risks.

In the context of DHA patient safety and medication management, what is the 'tall-man lettering' technique?

Answer: Using mixed case letters to differentiate similar drug names (e.g., hydrALAZINE vs. hydrOXYzine) to prevent LASA errors

Tall-man lettering uses mixed case (with capital letters highlighting the distinguishing parts of similar drug names) to visually differentiate LASA pairs. Example: DOBUTamine vs. DOPamine; chlorproMAZINE vs. chlorproPAMIDE. This technique reduces dispensing and administration errors with look-alike sound-alike medications.

A patient allergic to penicillin is prescribed cefazolin for surgical prophylaxis. The allergy is documented as 'rash.' What is the appropriate clinical decision?

Answer: The risk of cross-reactivity is low (1–2%); cefazolin is generally considered safe in patients with non-severe penicillin allergy (not anaphylaxis/SJS); assess allergy history carefully

Cross-reactivity between penicillins and cephalosporins is low (~1–2%). Patients with a history of mild reactions (rash) to penicillin can generally receive cephalosporins. Only patients with history of anaphylaxis, SJS/TEN, or other severe immediate reactions require avoidance of cephalosporins. The allergy history should be carefully reviewed.

What is the recommended first step when a healthcare worker suspects a medical device malfunction that may have caused or could cause patient harm?

Answer: Immediately remove the device from service, label it 'DO NOT USE,' report to biomedical engineering and the risk management department, and file an incident report

When a device malfunction is suspected: immediately take the device out of service to prevent further harm, label clearly to prevent use by others, notify biomedical engineering for inspection, report to risk management (and potentially DHA Medical Devices department), and file an incident/adverse event report. Device should be preserved for investigation — do not discard or repair before investigation.

In DHA-licensed facilities, 'informed consent' for surgical procedures must be obtained by whom?

Answer: The operating surgeon (or another physician who has the training and knowledge to explain the procedure and its risks)

Informed consent for a specific surgical procedure must be obtained by the physician with the knowledge and training to explain that procedure — typically the operating surgeon. The surgeon must personally explain the procedure, alternatives, risks, and benefits. Nurses can witness and document consent but cannot substitute for the physician in obtaining it.