Indo-Australian Patient Safety Compassion Workshop held at Manipal

Manipal, October 10, 2024: Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), Manipal, in collaboration with Deakin University, organises a workshop on patient safety compassion. Dr Stephane Bouchoucha, Associate Professor & Head of School, International Faculty of Health, / School of Nursing & Midwifery/ Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin Australia, says Patient Safety Compassion is the need of the hour in today’s patient safety concerns.

In Australia, the prevention of infections has primarily depended on limiting personal freedoms during health crises, including vaccination mandates and lockdowns. These band-aid solutions aim to preserve public health, which will benefit society by preventing the spread of illness. It also observed that “Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) faced challenges and were slow to react but stayed focused on keeping people safe.” Amid misunderstandings, recommendations also changed over time. IPC guidelines have a detrimental effect on patients, families, and healthcare providers by making family-centred care challenging.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, people’s compassion fatigue has been severely impacted by care delivery and restriction sets. The challenges that society still faces were considered when talking about it.

When debating ethical problems, the challenges that society still faces are taken into consideration. In times of emergency or critical care settings where patient safety is of the utmost importance, the administration must be aware of techniques that can keep us at ease while providing care. These strategies include patient-centred communication, a comfortable environment, continuous feedback and improvement, an interprofessional approach to care, and a supportive attitude from healthcare professionals.

Dr Vikram Palimar, Professor in the Department of Forensic Medicine, KMC MAHE, Manipal and also the head of the Patient Safety & Sentinel events committee of Kasturba Hospital, highlighted the day-to-day patient safety concerns in India that need close attention. Risks in the workplace need innovative solutions. He emphasised documenting unusual incidents, preventing patients from injuries, using correct identifiers, minimising medication errors, using closed-loop communication, and following hospital standards and protocols can save lives. Fact-finding and fault findings create fear in reporting. A supportive, non-punitive culture will enhance safety and encourage reporting to reduce incidents of morbidity and mortality. Encouraging error reporting without fear and retribution, a non-blaming attitude, regular feedback, a collaborative problem-solving forum, continuous training & support, and data utilisation can guide improvements in the system. He said, “Safety isn’t just a policy; it’s our promise to quality care”.

Dr. Judith A. Noronha, Dean Manipal College of Nursing, reinforced the significance of prioritising patient safety as an integral part of quality care, underscoring the policy, “Get it right, make it safe.”. Dr Elsa Sanatombi Devi, Professor MCON, MAHE Manipal, welcomed the delegates and the experts and engaged the learners with exciting learning linkages. Mr. Shreenidhi Joji, PhD scholar, ignited the participants with his collaborative learning skills. A total of 48 delegates took part in the workshop. This workshop aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, each of which plays a vital role in ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all. These SDGs collectively highlight the workshop’s broader impact beyond healthcare by enhancing education, improving work environments, and strengthening institutional frameworks. Together, they contribute to improving healthcare outcomes, reducing morbidity, and enhancing the overall quality of life, aligning with the global health agenda.