ABSTRACT
Patient-centered approach to care and regulatory advances developed in recent years have promoted patient involvement in decision-making about diagnostic tests and treatments. In other aspects, such as participating in their own safety, there is still a lot to do. Until recently, the patient has been considered as a simple health services receiver, not as an active part of the system, much less as a safety barrier against failures and errors that occur in health care. Some patients have been activated thanks to their experiences. However, many others do not. That is why it is necessary to proactively sensitize, inform and train patients to participate in their own safety. It is not about holding them responsible, but about facilitating and promoting their participation by reinforcing their safety during the care process. The health system must be committed, and the patient informed and trained. We provide tools and online resources to apply in primary care.
Subject(s)
Patient Participation , Patient Safety , Humans , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
The health system failed to guarantee the safety of both professionals and citizens who came to the centers at the beginning of the pandemic. The lack of materials and guidelines for the prevention of infections caused in Spain the worst catastrophe in the history of patient safety and occupational health in healthcare. It also happened in other countries but Spain had the highest rates of infected health workers in the world. It was a largely avoidable event. We review what measures have been taken to prevent infections in primary care centers, such as hand hygiene, masks and personal protection material or the maintenance of social distance, among others. We update the recommendations and raise the perspectives in a situation that requires flexibility and adaptability to maintain quality and safe care.
