The Ministry selects a Genetics project from the Miguel Servet University Hospital as a model for patient safety

The project is being presented at a conference in Madrid on Patient Safety Day with the aim of addressing safety related to diagnostic imaging.

The patient safety measures implemented in the Clinical Genetics section of the Miguel Servet University Hospital in Zaragoza are being presented today in Madrid as an example of good practiceA project implemented in this area has been selected to be presented at the Ministry of Health during the scientific conference organised on the occasion of Patient Safety Day under the motto “Correct diagnoses, safe patients”.

The World Health Organization has set September 17 as Patient Safety Day, a day focused on improving healthcare processes to reduce the possibility of making mistakes or any other type of problems. This year, both safety related to diagnostic imaging and in laboratories are addressed.

For this last area, the Servet project has been chosen. The head of the Clinical Genetics section of the HUMS, Dr. Silvia Izquierdo, this morning, presents the control mechanisms that guarantee, among other points, the correct traceability of the samples with the aim of “avoiding false diagnoses, both positive and negative.”

Analyze each phase of the process

For that, The different points that may be critical throughout the process have been analyzed, differentiating its various phases: pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical. For example, The doctor explains that special emphasis is placed on the correct identification of the blood draw., according to internationally established criteria, or to guarantee traceability when the step of extracting DNA from the primary tube containing the peripheral blood sample occurs.

The project also establishes when and how it is advisable to carry out random sampling for analysis. or double checks. For the specialist, this type of project allows for the identification of risks and opportunities for improvement.

ISO 15189 accreditation

Silvia Izquierdo points out that they have established “filters and strategies to reduce possible errors” and that the steps taken in this section are perfectly applicable to other areas of clinical laboratories. The specialist highlights the work carried out prior to these controls thanks to the fact that they have the accreditation ISO 15189, a specific standard that ensures the quality of clinical laboratories.

Compliance with the requirements of this standard It allows us to carry out an objective self-assessment of the correct functioning of the global process and move towards excellence. of the service we offer.

Dr. Izquierdo

Dr. Izquierdo also stresses the importance of each step taken in this work, since the results obtained lead to clinical decisions that are relevant not only for the patient but also for family members. The demand for genetic studies increases every year (9.000 per year at the Miguel Servet University Hospital).

Source: The pAragon newspaper