Practical Solutions to Improve Safety in the Obstetrics/Gynecology Office Setting and in the Operating Room

There are great opportunities to enhance patient safety in office practice, but the pattern of medical errors and techniques to reduce their frequency appears to differ from the hospital environment. A focus on decreasing the risks of prescribing errors and tracking errors may be particularly fruitful in the office setting, such as electronic prescribing, electronic medical records, the use of detailed patient instructions, unambiguous prescribing, and meticulous follow-up of test results. The surgical environment presents its own unique set of risks to patient safety, particularly because of the catastrophic consequences that may result from even infrequent events. Vigilance against stress and fatigue is particularly important. Patient safety in surgery is promoted by routine use of the “universal protocol,” antibiotic prophylaxis, thromboprophylaxis, open communication among all members of the surgical team, and clear guidelines for introducing new procedures and technology.