What happens between visits? Adverse and potential adverse events among a low-income, urban, ambulatory population with diabetes.
Sarkar U, Handley MA, Gupta R, et al. What happens between visits? Adverse and potential adverse events among a low-income, urban, ambulatory population with diabetes. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010;19(3):223-8. doi:10.1136/qshc.2008.029116.
Adverse events after hospital discharge are a known patient safety hazard, but similar events between ambulatory clinic visits are poorly described. This study longitudinally followed a vulnerable patient population with diabetes between clinic visits and discovered 86% experienced at least one adverse or potential adverse event during the 9-month observation period. Medication management was the most common domain identified, while 80% of all events had a combination of system, clinician, and patient factors contributing. The authors discuss the complex safety environment observed and highlight that patients themselves may be key vehicles for reducing events. A past AHRQ WebM&M interview discusses the challenges in safely caring for vulnerable patient populations in the ambulatory setting.
Sarkar U, Handley MA, Gupta R, et al. What happens between visits? Adverse and potential adverse events among a low-income, urban, ambulatory population with diabetes. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010;19(3):223-8. doi:10.1136/qshc.2008.029116.