By Chioma Obinna

Although human error remains inevitable in medicine, health experts say if hospitals work towards ensuring standards in healthcare delivery, it would reduce the incidence of human error in healthcare services, thereby ensuring patients safety.

Chairman, Hygeia Group, Prof. Adeyemo Elebute who made the assertion last week at the media presentation of Lagoon Hospitals Accreditation by the Joint Commission International (JCI), the World leader in improving quality of healthcare, argued that putting in place a checklist in healthcare just like in the airline industry, would automatically reduce hazards associated with human error in the business.

Elebute who was asserted that Lagoon Hospitals were first in Sub- Saharan Africa to be so accredited, noted that the positive effect the checklist in the airline industry, which deals with human life, would be a very important tool in ensuring safety of patients. The new accreditation from JCI was part of strategies by the hospitals to renew patient trust, safety and provide affordable and quality care. WIth a mission is to improve quality of care in the international community through provision of accreditation and consultation services, the commission has accredited over 40 organisations around the world.

Managing Director, Lagoon Hospitals, Mrs. Fola Laoye described the accreditation from JCI as a significant step in the quality and patient safety journey and opined that a way of making hospitals safe is by reducing human error. Standards measured covered clinical care and organisational management areas such as assessment of patients, infection control, facility management and safety, staff qualifications, quality improvement and patient safety, organisational governance and leadership, and management of information and communication.

President, JCI, Paula Wilson, who noted that healthcare organisations in the world want to create environments that focus on quality, safety and continuous improvement said “Accreditation meets this demand by stimulating continuous, systematic improvements in an organisation’s performance and the outcomes of patient care.”about patient safety and rights said it was guaranteed to improve public trust and staff satisfaction through reduction of human error amongt others.

Also, MD, Lagoon Hospital, Apapa, Dr. Afolabi Osunkoya noted that safety is paramount all the time and must be made a culture in hospitals. MD, Lagoon Hospitals Ikeja, Dr. David Bayagbon said the accreditation is for a three-year period after which JCI would be back to reappraise the hospitals again against the set guidelines.

“Some of the examinations include; how well we are maintaining and using our medical facilities, fire and safety standards, environmental standards, clinical standard that is how we treat and monitor our patients, how we make sure that we prevent infection and so.”