Patient safety for the surgical trainee.

This article highlights some key principles in patient safety for the surgical trainee. The incidence of harm in healthcare and surgical practice in particular are outlined. The importance of clinical human factors is highlighted along with how this discipline has helped healthcare workers improve the care they provide to patients. Concepts of systems thinking are introduced; patient harm rarely comes from the isolated action of an individual but from deficiencies in the systems of which they are a part and with which they interact. The shifting paradigm of patient safety thinking is highlighted' with an increasing focus on reducing risk (safety II) rather than eliminating harm (safety I). Strategies for recording, analysing and learning from patient harms are discussed. Examples are provided of commonly used systems models to help clinicians in this area. A number of strategies that have been developed to enhance safety, trap errors and mitigate potential harm to surgical patients are discussed. Information is provided on several key national and international patient safety initiatives that have been instrumental in enhancing patient care by disseminating learning and collaboration between individual units, hospitals and health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]