patty & pat

Building Alliances & Smoothing the Path

To

Better Patient SafetyPatty Skolnik, Exec. Director

Citizens for Patient Safety

Pat Mastors, Founder

Pear Health

Take-aways:

1. Learn how allies can be embraced to improve patient safety

2. Learn how environments can be embraced to improve patient safety

3. Learn from each other

Our son, Michael Skolnik

VIDEO -http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=7XLTN8dvffo&list=UUXyNo68qfPLKQQ2e86i-GCg&index=3

Finding Unexpected Allies

“…getting past the Culture of Silence – the tendency of medical insiders to defend each other and shield the patient from important information.”

The Sandbox

How do you get what you want?

Rep. Morgan Carroll: “…Patty found champions in the Colorado medical society, in the state’s largest malpractice carrier, and

with legislators on both sides of the aisle.”

“Playing nice”

• It broadens your perspective• You might make unexpected allies• Be open, transparent, and agree to disagree• Invite yourself to the dance• Don’t just think of yourself

What roadblocks do you face?How can you smooth them?

My Dad, Bob Stegeman

one of

100,000deaths each

year

Hospital-Acquired Infections: What do patients know?

52% 65%30%

#1

Doctors don’t clean hands

between patients

Carry C. diff spores

Wasn’t washedin a week

Ranked “Germiest” object in room Left dirty for

next patient

Doctors’ Neckties contaminated

Purse bottoms carryFecal bacteria

50%

50% 50%

How does the patient clean their hands?

Where does the patient put their stuff?

How does the patient remember instructions and discharge stuff?

How can caregivers “see us”?

Mistakes are inevitable

How Can Patients Help?

We can help with the Swiss Cheese

We Can Help Here Too

Patients can

“Smooth the path” for mousetraps, and

“Block the holes” in the Swiss cheese

“Always” Event: Smooth the path

(Raise a concern- red flag--infection)

“Never” Event:Block the holes - ask when

you don’t understand

Carrots & Sticks:

It’s about being human. People want to do the right thing

Make it easier for them to do it.

Q: What barriers are you facing???

Patty Skolnik, Citizens for Patient Safety

www.citizensforpatientsafety.org

Patty@citizensforpatientsafety.org

Pat Mastors, Pear Health

www.thepatientpod.com

Pmastors@thepatientpod.com