May 01, 2008

How Medical Ombuds Can Facilitate Apology and Disclosure

Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare magazine is running a series of articles by Carole Houk on the role of Medical Ombuds. The latest installment discusses how the ombuds assists medical professionals prepare for a meeting after an adverse outcome. Simply put, the medical ombuds can help a caregiver be open and honest in disclosing the truth about a medical error to a patient and family because it is the right thing to do. (PSQH.)

Related post: Carole Houk Awarded 5-Year Contract With Dept. of Interior.

This series is an excellent tool for Ombuds to justify their value in an a healthcare setting.

1 comment:

  1. Important to keep an eye on the distinction between the model described here, which started at the Bethesda National Naval Medical Center and an Organizational Ombuds.

    Essential here is that this OO is a hybrid with the primary initiating moment of Ombuds usage coming from patients and their families, NOT from employees, staff etc.

    The potential exists for a healthcare provider to build a truly ROBUST O model that had both functions in the Ombuds Office, likely staffed by different people. By comparing usage, trends etc, it might be possible for these two functions, working in concert to not only drive significant savings for the institution, but also dramatically increase safety and quality of care for patients.

    Best-
    John

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