Four hazards that did not make the ECRI Institute list

Developing the top 10 patient safety list every year comes down to a group of ECRI Institute experts culling through submitted event reports, conducting accident investigations, and looking at the consulting projects they do. Every year, the consensus distributes a lists the top 10 concerns. Cindy Wallace, CPHRM, senior risk management analyst at the institute, shares some concerns that did not make this year’s list:

• Dealing with disruptive clinicians:
• managing anticoagulation medications, specifically older ones like Coumadin:
• ineffective suicide assessment:
• infant/newborn falls: instances where a very tired new mother might be holding the newborn and falls with the infant;
• pressure ulcers from devices: nasal cannulae come to mind, where if not moved or checked, or if placed too tightly, can cause skin deterioration in a relatively short period of time.

Although these items did not make the top 10 list, Wallace reminds us to remember they are also important safety issues to consider — but, if you have to stratify what is most important, start with the top 10. If you have the bandwidth do delve further, these are certainly items worthy of consideration.