PRIORITIZING PATIENT SAFETY IN CARDIOLOGY PROCEDURES

Abstract

The eye opening report, 'To Err is Human' by National Institute of Medicine in 2011
revealed that more than 90,000 persons succumb to medical errors in USA
alone, incurring a cost of 8-9 billion dollars. The number of deaths reported
claims a higher mortality than deaths due to accidents on roads, breast cancers
1 2,3 and AIDS. Similar scenario was painted by other reports. WHO declared patient
safety as a priority in 2002. Most medical students, even trained in developed
4-7 countries, admit to inadequate exposure to the concept of patient safety. Some
of the developed countries have included 'patient safety' in their medical
curriculum. But there is a wide variation between the content, time allocated from
4 hours to 30 hours, modes of instruction consisting of eight formats and method
8 of evaluation. WHO has formulated guidelines for medical curriculum consisting
often modules. One of the modules is dedicated to patient safety in invasive
9 procedures.

In conclusion, in the modern cardiology there is potential of great patient benefit employing non-invasive investigations for
maximal information on disease pathology and still broader prospects of patient benefit utilizing newer technique and devices
for improving patient symptoms and outlook. Patient safety must be considered as the first priority and this should be ingrained
in undergraduate medical curriculum but more importantly in Cardiology postgraduate fellowships as an integral part of
13 training.