Introduction
The issues of patient safety and quality care remain at the forefront of medical research concerns. Although the quality of healthcare has improved since the story of Josie King, and many interventions have been introduced in different organizations, the problem of human errors and misunderstandings persists. In the TED talk, Dr. Peter Pronovost addresses this issue and presents several concepts to change the rate of errors and incidents. The three most important concepts are humility, connected communities, and love.
Discussion
The first idea that is discussed in the video is humility and its role in improving patient care. Pronovost states that healthcare leaders must “get some humility” and pay attention to patients’ needs and requests (TEDx Talks, 2016). Patients’ loved ones and family members should also be included in the discussion, and their opinions must be considered as well. This concept was chosen because it represents one of the significant problems in healthcare – overconfidence. According to Lowenstein (2020), acknowledging one’s limitations is vital for appropriately viewing each situation and being vigilant against mistakes. As a future leader in healthcare, I would apply humility daily, listening to others’ concerns attentively and giving a voice to vulnerable populations. I would welcome feedback from peers, subordinates, and other leaders, as it would help me review my performance and keep the quality of care high.
The second concept I find important is the creation of communities. Pronovost emphasizes the role of inspiration and not coercion in peer relationships (TEDx Talks, 2016). By building strong connections, a healthcare professional takes part in knowledge sharing, discussion, and review that allows one to gain more insight into the issues, weaknesses, and possibilities of care improvement. Thus, this concept was selected because it represents the role of group effort in improving healthcare. The story of Josie King illustrates how the lack of conversation between workers has led to the death of a young girl (PCNE NAUC, 2020). Thus, to avoid such incidents in my practice, I would apply this concept by establishing meetings and huddles for healthcare teams, talking about issues, and providing feedback regularly.
Finally, the last concept introduced in the video is love. In this case, love is defined by small events and activities that healthcare providers can do to ensure that the patient and his loved ones feel cared for and acknowledged. Pronovost discusses the vital role of empathy, attentiveness, and kindness in creating a relationship with patients and including them in the process of care (TEDx Talks, 2016). Love is a building block of healthcare and should be considered in each program and initiative that promotes patient safety. As a healthcare leader, I will base my decisions and ethical choices on love by listening to others, choosing to actively support open dialogue, and showing patients and other professionals the importance of care quality.
Conclusion
Recounting the story of Josie King, it is apparent that the staff showed a lack of humility, connectedness, and love. These three concepts can help providers build a better system of care where patients are included in the conversation, and staff members act as a team, not as individuals. As a future health leader, I will apply these ideas to build a strong team of professionals who discuss issues openly, involve patients and their families, and prioritize love above everything else to uphold a high standard of patient safety.
References
Lowenstein, E. J. (2020). Patient safety and the mother of all biases: Overconfidence. International Journal of Women’s Dermatology, 6(2), 127-128. Web.
PCNE NAUC. (2020). The Josie King story [Video]. YouTube. Web.
TEDx Talks. (2016, March 31). Believing and Belonging | Peter Pronovost | TEDxBeaconStreetSalon [Video]. YouTube. Web.