Leveraging supply chain infrastructure to advance patient safety in community health-care settings

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the opportunity for supply chain processes and infrastructure to reduce the risk of medical error and create traceability of adverse events in community care settings. Patient safety has become an important area of focus over the past few decades, with medical error now accounting for the third most common cause of death in Canada and the USA. The majority of patient safety studies to date have focused specifically on safety in hospital settings; however, deaths and harm experienced by patients in the community (home care, long-term care, complex care and rehabilitation settings) are not well understood. Design/methodology/approach This paper discusses the evidence that adverse events occur at similar, if not more, frequent rates in community care settings. Findings The authors propose that above and beyond current efforts to increase awareness and promote a "safety culture" in health-care settings, system infrastructure should be designed in a way that enables clinicians to provide the safest care possible. There is currently no line of sight across the health-care continuum. The authors suggest that improving system infrastructure would reduce the occurrence of adverse events. Originality/value Such visibility across the continuum of care holds the potential to transform health-care in Canada from a fragmented system, where information is inadequately captured and transferred from provider to provider, to a system that provides complete, accurate and up-to-date information regarding patient care, procedures, medications and outcomes so as to provide the best and safest care possible. System visibility achieves quality and safe care, which is transparent and accountable and achieves value for patients.

Evaluation of smart long-term care information strategy portfolio decision model: the national healthcare environment in Taiwan

“…The three value chains—life care services, medical services, and long-term care services—are closely related and unique. Moreover, system visibility enables quality and safe care that is transparent and accountable and delivers value to patients (Snowdon and Tallarigo, 2018 ). However, acquiring an information system application can require an enormous investment for healthcare organizations.…”

“…In particular, smart technology reduces the waste of resources and gathers medical information to predict and control the occurrence of disease Liang et al ( 2017 ); Grünloh et al ( 2018 ); Lopes et al ( 2018 ); Vetsch et al ( 2019 ); Denicolai and Previtali ( 2020 ) Sustainable Financial Development Government Subsidy Industry Service Value Effective Cost Control As government subsidies provide the financial resources for care institutions, they combine the three value chains of care services, medical services, and long-term care services to achieve the value of care industry services. Effective management of initial costs, maintenance costs, support, and enhancement of system-related long-term costs can all support long-term care sustainable development Kim et al ( 2013 ); Wager et al ( 2017 ); Snowdon and Tallarigo ( 2018 ); PwC ( 2019 ); Teymourifar et al ( 2021 ) Resource Optimization Integration Adequate Service Capacity Health Care Process Optimization Health Care Resource Utilization Provide long-term care service popularization, training of caregivers, and employment mediation, while developing a long-term service industry. Through process optimization, resources are optimally allocated to improve work efficiency, incorporate home, community, and care institutions, and integrate medical, pharmaceutical, and assistive devices to provide good care to patients Schipper et al ( 2015 ); Ker et al ( 2018 ); Qiana et al ( 2019 ); Abdalkareem et al ( 2021 )

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