What is the purpose of the National Patient Safety Goals?

This is straight from the Joint Commission

What's the answer?

The joint commission states that the purpose of the national safety goals is to improve patient safety. There are specific points and examples that are given, such as
 - Identifying your patient correctly - use at least two ways to identify your patient. Usually name and DOB are used.
- Improve staff communication - making sure the labs are getting to the right person to interpret and use
- Using medications safely - Using the five rights of medication administration. Labeling meds that aren't labeled already. Making sure that your patient should be receiving the meds prescribed
- Use patient alarms safely - If a patient is supposed to be on a bed or chair alarm, make sure they are used properly, functioning and on when they need to be on.
- Identify patient safety risks - If they are on a 1-1 observation for suicide precaution, make sure that they are being observed.
- Prevent surgery mistakes - identify that the patient is having the correct surgery at the correct site. Mark the area of surgery and make sure to stop and make sure mistakes are not being made