附錄J: Highlights of the Australian National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards

Governance

Establishes a governance system, including collecting and reviewing performance data, for safety and quality in health care. All of the subsequent standards are tied to governance in some way.

Partnering with Consumers

Establishes consumer partnerships for service planning, designing care, and the collection and evaluation of performance measures.

Infection

Aimed at preventing patients from acquiring infections, and when they do, manage the infections efficiently. Regular monitoring of policies, procedures, and protocols for waste management to antibiotic use. Surveillance system using dedicated workforce.

Medication Safety

Monitoring of patient medical history, including current medications, as well as subsequent prescribing and dispensing/administering of medications. Storing and compounding of medications are also monitored.

Patient ID and Procedure Matching

Standards are designed to ensure that the correct procedure is on the correct patient. A minimum of three patient identifiers are used when transferring patients or providing care.

Clinical Handover

Standards for transfer of care, whether by shift change, written orders, or transport to a new area, implemented primarily through governance.

Blood and Blood Products

Standards ensure safety and appropriateness of administering blood products to patients, via monitoring blood product prescribing and clinical use. Including clinical monitoring of blood product transfusion history and disposal of any products.

Pressure Injuries

Standards in place to ensure patients don’t develop pressure injuries, and, when they do, how best to treat them.

Deterioration in Acute Health Care

Standards ensure patient deterioration—with the exception of mental deterioration—is detected and acted upon promptly and appropriately.

Falls

Standards attempt to prevent falls and the resulting harm to the patient.

Source: Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (September 2012). Sydney. ACSQHC, 2012.