Culture of patient safety in dialysis care

Even though haemodialysis (HD) has transformed from an extraordinary to a commonplace procedure over the past 50 years, outpatient dialysis centres can be potentially hazardous for patients. Multiple safety risks are readily apparent in dialysis units, and adverse events are common occurrences. Among these are patient falls, medication errors, vascular access-related events, errors in machine and membrane preparation, failure to follow established policies, lapses in infection control, and communication breakdowns. Despite the known complexity of the HD procedure, environment, and associated patient safety risks, little is known about the state of patient safety cultures in the dialysis units. Patient safety is one foundation of high-quality care, and the Institute of Medicine recommends that all health care facilities across the care continuum develop and maintain a culture of patient safety. Creating, improving or maintaining a culture of safety in dialysis units is an essential requirement for minimising patient risks for harm, preventing or reducing errors, and improving the quality of care rendered. The routine assessments of patient safety culture in dialysis units can assist dialysis organisations in their efforts to identify threats to patient safety, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes.