National Patient Safety Goals
January 20, 2006

2006 Behavioral Health Care National Patient Safety Goals

2006 NPSG Applicability Grid for Behavioral Health Care

 

Note: New Goals and Requirements are indicated in bold.

 

Goal 1 Improve the accuracy of resident identification.
1A Use at least two client identifiers (neither to be the room number) whenever administering medications or blood products; taking blood samples and other specimens for clinical testing, or providing any other procedures.
1B Not applicable.
Goal 2 Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers.
2A For verbal or telephone orders or for telephonic reporting of critical test results, verify the complete order or test result by having the person receiving the order or test result "read-back" the complete order or test result.
2B Standardize a list of abbreviations, acronyms and symbols that are not to be used throughout the organization.
2C Measure, assess and, if appropriate, take action to improve the timeliness of reporting, and the timeliness of receipt by the responsible licensed caregiver, of critical test results and values.
2D Not applicable.
2E Implement a standardized approach to "hand off" communications, including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions. 
Goal 3 Improve the safety of using medications.
3B Standardize and limit the number of drug concentrations available in the organization.
3C Identify and, at a minimum, annually review a list of look-alike/sound-alike drugs used in the organization, and take action to prevent errors involving the interchange of these drugs.
3D Not applicable.
Goal 4 Not applicable.
Goal 5 Retired in 2006.
Goal 6 Not applicable.
Goal 7 Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections.
7A Comply with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hand hygiene guidelines when providing services to a high-risk population, or administering physical care.
7B Manage as sentinel events all identified cases of unanticipated death or major permanent loss of function associated with a health care-associated infection.
Goal 8 Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.
8A Implement a process for obtaining and documenting a complete list of the client's current medications upon the client's entry to the organization and with the involvement of the client. This process includes a comparison of the medications the organization provides to those on the list.
8B A complete list of the client's medications is communicated to the next provider of service when a client is referred or transferred to another setting, service, practitioner or level of care within or outside the organization.
Goal 9 Not applicable.
Goal 10 Not applicable.
Goal 11 Not applicable.
Goal 12 Not applicable.
Goal 13 Not applicable.
Goal 14 Not applicable.