Introduction
Surgical procedures are evidence-based interventions in health care intended to improve patients’ outcomes. Safety remains paramount whenever surgeons are undertaking such procedures. The Joint Commission (JC) presents the National Patient Safety Goals in an effort to maximize safety and support the needs of every beneficiary. The purpose of this document is to improve the quality of surgical procedures while solving emerging problems throughout the surgical period (The Joint Commission, n.d.). The seventh goal is to prevent mistakes during surgery. JC recommends a number of action plans that professionals in the field need to consider if they are to achieve this aim.
To ensure that sentinel events do not occur during surgery, the described goal requires that physicians and clinicians identify patients correctly. This practice will allow such experts to perform the process on the specific individual who needs it. They should go further to locate the right place on the patient’s body where the medical operation is to take place (The Joint Commission, n.d.). The purpose of this action is to prevent scenarios whereby a surgeon or doctor performs an operation in the wrong area. Such an approach plays a crucial role in minimizing sentinel events and ensuring that the overall health needs of the beneficiary are met (Kumar & Raina, 2017). The next issue to consider is for the professionals to pause before performing the intended surgery. This initiative plays a crucial role in ensuring that they do not make any mistakes. When done correctly, these measures work synergistically towards minimizing mistakes and supporting the delivery of high-quality medical support.
Improving Surgical Care and Reducing Surgical Complications
The seventh JC goal is critical since it guides medical experts to avoid errors whenever performing surgical operations. As an evidence-based practice, surgery plays a significant role in meeting the needs of patients with various medical complications. This goal outlines step-by-step guidelines that the involved team members need to take into consideration (The Joint Commission, n.d.). This approach will ensure that the right patient undergoes the much-needed operation. Additionally, the procedures outlined in the JC goal make it possible for surgeons to perform the medical activity on the right part of the body or place. These considerations increase the chances of targeting the specific medical condition. The successful completion of the medical procedure sets the stage for providing personalized surgical care (Kumar & Raina, 2017). Failure to get the outlined activities right would amount to a sentinel event, thereby making it impossible for medical workers to provide high-quality support.
The prevalence of errors in medical practice remains a major challenge affecting many health systems across the globe. JC chose to present the identified goal to help reduce surgical complications. Doctors who perform surgical procedures on the wrong patient or wrong place cause additional predicaments in the delivery of care. The victims of surgical errors will tend to report additional complications or health problems that could have been avoided (Manias et al., 2020). When done correctly and in the right place, other medical practitioners will find it easier to provide personalized care and support to the patient.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the outlined goals will also help other professionals manage surgical wounds more efficiently based on the provided instructions. The end result is that the operated area of the body will heal in a timely manner. Such an achievement will contribute positively to the individual’s healing process.
References
The Joint Commission. (n.d.). The universal protocol. Web.
Kumar, J., & Raina, R. (2017). ‘Never events in surgery’: Mere error or an avoidable disaster. Indian Journal of Surgery, 79(3), 238-244. Web.
Manias, E., Kusljic, S., & Wu, A. (2020) Interventions to reduce medication errors in adult medical and surgical settings: A systematic review. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 11, 1-29. Web.