One of the common committees used in the health care setting is the patient safety committee. The
safety committee plays a critical role in mitigating risks within the healthcare setting by focusing on the
patient’s safety and quality of care. The patient safety committee tasks include identifying potential
risks, developing safety protocols to address any risks, providing training and education about patient
safety and new protocols, evaluating and monitoring patient safety. The patient safety committee is
made up of a multidisciplinary team. One source states “patient safety committee typically includes
representatives from various healthcare disciplines like nurses, physicians, pharmacists, risk managers,
administrators, clinical staff from different departments (e.g., surgery, ICU, lab), quality improvement
specialists, infection control practitioners, and sometimes even patient advocates, all with the goal of
identifying and addressing potential patient safety issues across the hospital” (Lee, 2024). This complex
team typically meets monthly. One source states “the safety committee shall meet as required by the
chairman, but not less than quarterly, written minutes of each meeting shall be retained for at least one
year” (Department of State Health Services, 2007). The patient safety team should publish all notes and
findings to provide full transparency and correct all safety issues. The safety committee is a great use of
staff time as it provides space for specialist of every discipline to collaborate and communicate on safety
issues. The safety committee is an effective way to promote safety and reduce risks within the
healthcare system.
Lee, J. (2024). Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee. Retrieved from
https://medicine.weill.cornell.edu/education/quality-and-patient-safety-program/qips
Department of State Health Services. (2007). Texas Administrative Code. Retrieved from
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?
sl=T&app=9&p_dir=N&p_rloc=130515&p_tloc=&p_ploc=1&pg=2&p_tac=&ti=25&pt=1&ch=133&rl=141#
:~:text=Texas%20Administrative%20Code&text=(a) %20Safety%20committee.,continuing%20education
%20of%20all%20employees.
Healthcare organizations can implement several measures to enhance infection control protocols. Some
of these measures include implementing an advanced air filtration system, use of ultraviolet light for
disinfection and implementation of a visitor screening protocol. Advanced air filtration systems such as
high efficiency particulate air filtration can reduce airborne pathogens. One source states “HEPA air
filtration has been shown to reduce the airborne concentrations of droplet nuclei by 90%” (Curtis, 2007).
This system can be installed in patient rooms, hallways and waiting areas to reduce the risk of airborne
pathogens. Ultraviolet light can kill many different types of bacteria and viruses. One source states
“ultraviolet light acts as a powerful disinfectant and can prevent contamination of personal hygiene
from various contaminated environments” (Song, 2023). Ultraviolet lights can be portable, these
portable lights can be used to disinfect surfaces of patient rooms, operating rooms, and other high-risk
areas. The implementation of a robust visitor screening protocol can greatly mitigate the number of
infections, illnesses, and viruses that enter a healthcare facility. This new visitor screening policy should
include temperature checks, symptom questionnaires, and rapid testing for infectious diseases that are
occurring at a rapid rate in the local area. One source states “influenza and other respiratory viruses are
safety committee plays a critical role in mitigating risks within the healthcare setting by focusing on the
patient’s safety and quality of care. The patient safety committee tasks include identifying potential
risks, developing safety protocols to address any risks, providing training and education about patient
safety and new protocols, evaluating and monitoring patient safety. The patient safety committee is
made up of a multidisciplinary team. One source states “patient safety committee typically includes
representatives from various healthcare disciplines like nurses, physicians, pharmacists, risk managers,
administrators, clinical staff from different departments (e.g., surgery, ICU, lab), quality improvement
specialists, infection control practitioners, and sometimes even patient advocates, all with the goal of
identifying and addressing potential patient safety issues across the hospital” (Lee, 2024). This complex
team typically meets monthly. One source states “the safety committee shall meet as required by the
chairman, but not less than quarterly, written minutes of each meeting shall be retained for at least one
year” (Department of State Health Services, 2007). The patient safety team should publish all notes and
findings to provide full transparency and correct all safety issues. The safety committee is a great use of
staff time as it provides space for specialist of every discipline to collaborate and communicate on safety
issues. The safety committee is an effective way to promote safety and reduce risks within the
healthcare system.
Lee, J. (2024). Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Committee. Retrieved from
https://medicine.weill.cornell.edu/education/quality-and-patient-safety-program/qips
Department of State Health Services. (2007). Texas Administrative Code. Retrieved from
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?
sl=T&app=9&p_dir=N&p_rloc=130515&p_tloc=&p_ploc=1&pg=2&p_tac=&ti=25&pt=1&ch=133&rl=141#
:~:text=Texas%20Administrative%20Code&text=(a) %20Safety%20committee.,continuing%20education
%20of%20all%20employees.
Healthcare organizations can implement several measures to enhance infection control protocols. Some
of these measures include implementing an advanced air filtration system, use of ultraviolet light for
disinfection and implementation of a visitor screening protocol. Advanced air filtration systems such as
high efficiency particulate air filtration can reduce airborne pathogens. One source states “HEPA air
filtration has been shown to reduce the airborne concentrations of droplet nuclei by 90%” (Curtis, 2007).
This system can be installed in patient rooms, hallways and waiting areas to reduce the risk of airborne
pathogens. Ultraviolet light can kill many different types of bacteria and viruses. One source states
“ultraviolet light acts as a powerful disinfectant and can prevent contamination of personal hygiene
from various contaminated environments” (Song, 2023). Ultraviolet lights can be portable, these
portable lights can be used to disinfect surfaces of patient rooms, operating rooms, and other high-risk
areas. The implementation of a robust visitor screening protocol can greatly mitigate the number of
infections, illnesses, and viruses that enter a healthcare facility. This new visitor screening policy should
include temperature checks, symptom questionnaires, and rapid testing for infectious diseases that are
occurring at a rapid rate in the local area. One source states “influenza and other respiratory viruses are
