To guarantee patient safety, the Australian healthcare system has numerous safeguards in place. These consist of:
- Regulation of healthcare providers: To guarantee that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals adhere to a set of standards and credentials, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) controls the registration and accreditation of healthcare providers.
- Clinical governance: To guarantee the provision of safe and high-quality care, hospitals and healthcare organisations have processes in place for clinical governance. This involves employing best practises and evidence-based recommendations, as well as conducting routine evaluations of patient care, incidents, and patient outcomes.
- All healthcare professionals are expected to notify the appropriate regulatory authority of occurrences, near-misses, and adverse events. This makes it possible to keep track of incidents, analyse them, and find places where things may be done better.
- Patients have a right to participate in their own care, including being informed of the advantages and disadvantages of various treatments and procedures and providing their consent. By doing this, medical mistakes are reduced and patients get care that is in line with their values and wishes.
- Programs for enhancing the quality and safety of healthcare delivery are in existence at numerous healthcare institutions. Regular audits, risk analyses, and staff development and training programmes are part of this.
- Medication management: The prescribing, dispensing, and administering of pharmaceuticals are all subject to stringent rules and regulations in the Australian healthcare system. This ensures that patients receive the appropriate medication at the appropriate dose and helps to prevent medication errors.
Together, these processes form a complete strategy for patient safety, ensuring that patients get the best care possible.