drawing of headphones Module 1 –Unit 7:  Listening Task - click to Listen

Avoiding and Reporting Errors in Health Care

Think About It   Think of a situation when you observed something that could have resulted in an error or an accident. What did you do? Did you “raise a red flag” (indicate the need to proceed with caution or to stop)?  Click on the LISTEN button to hear five conversations between health professionals who identify potential errors.

First Listening

Listen to the conversations and identify the error they are talking about. Write the correct letter of the conversation next to the error.

_____  writing on the wrong chart
_____  misuse of pronouns (he/she)
_____  forgetting to write something down
_____  incorrect medication order
_____  identifying the wrong patient

Second Listening  

Listen to one of the conversations again. As you listen to each part, put the conversation in the correct order. In Part 1, number each sentence from 1 to 9. Begin Part 2 with Number 10. Then practice the conversation.

Part 1

____  Hi. This is Reva in the lab. I have a critically high potassium level to report for Xi Wong in 716.
____  Ti will be back in a few minutes. I’ll give it to her right away.
____  Sure. Humberto Castro, RN.
____  All right. That’s Xi Wong, potassium 6.0.
____  Right.
____  Ti is his nurse, but she’s on break. I’m covering her patients. I can take it for you.
_1__  7 North. This is Humberto.
____  Okay. This is for Xi Wong in room 716 med record number 3763348. His potassium is 6.0 on the AM draw.
____  Thanks. Can you tell me your name again for my record?

Part 2

____  That doesn’t sound right. He didn’t get any lab draws today. Did you write it down?
____  Thanks. I’ll call and check it out.
____  I can’t find my notes, but I’m sure it was Wong in 760.
____  We’ve got two Wongs on the unit. I’d better check. Do you remember who you talked to?
____  Hi, Ti. The lab just called on your patient Wong in 760. He has a critically high potassium of 6.0.
____  Yeah. It was Reva.

What types of incidents or unusual occurrences in a health care setting should be reported? Can you think of an example from your own health care field?