Table 1Examples of comments made to Team Safety members during walk rounds

Care delivery
  • Request for education and consistency regarding insulin administration.
  • Missed and delayed orders after new order process implemented.
  • Difficult to access virtual medical library and electronic drug handbook.
Communication
  • Incomplete hand-off from cardiac catheterization laboratory to other areas.
  • Difficult to access electronic version of policies and procedures.
Environment
  • Plastic bags covering clean linens pose risk to toddlers.
  • Nail and screw tips protruding into drawers pose risk to staff and visitors.
Equipment
  • Insufficient number and remote placement of resuscitation bags and masks.
  • Missing pieces on ECG machines.
Intrahospital transport
  • Inadequate communication between RN, transporter, and radiology department.
  • Lack of process for providing staff to accompany and stay with patient.
Medication
  • Inconsistent naming of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (generic vs. trade).
  • Risk of medication error involving patients with same last name.
Security
  • Difficult to distinguish patients from visitors with current system.
  • Difficult to monitor/control visitor movement in/out of care areas.
Staffing
  • Acuity/census changes faster than number of RNs increase.
  • Difficult to maintain appropriate skill mix when acuity rapidly changes.

From: Impact of Staff-Led Safety Walk Rounds

Cover of Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches (Vol. 3: Performance and Tools)
Advances in Patient Safety: New Directions and Alternative Approaches (Vol. 3: Performance and Tools).
Henriksen K, Battles JB, Keyes MA, et al., editors.
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