Reducing medical errors for older veterans through communication, mediation and quality assurance

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated strategies—communication protocols, mediation techniques, and quality assurance (QA) measures—in reducing medical errors among older veterans within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The research seeks to identify key factors contributing to errors and assess the impact of targeted interventions on enhancing patient safety. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining qualitative interviews with healthcare providers, veterans, and caregivers, alongside quantitative analysis of medical records, incident reports, and patient safety surveys. The study utilized stratified sampling to ensure diversity across different VHA facilities and applied statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, logistic regression, and bootstrapping, to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. The findings indicate a significant reduction in medical errors through the implementation of standardized communication protocols, particularly during patient handoffs. Mediation effectively resolved conflicts arising from errors, fostering a culture of transparency and continuous improvement. Facilities with robust QA programs demonstrated higher success rates in identifying and mitigating potential risks. The integration of these strategies led to a 45% reduction in overall error rates, with communication errors showing the most substantial decline. The study highlights the critical role of communication, mediation, and QA in enhancing patient safety within veterans' healthcare. While the results demonstrate the effectiveness of these strategies, challenges such as resource variability and the need for ongoing training persist. The research underscores the importance of adopting a multi-faceted approach to error reduction and suggests further exploration of advanced technologies and longitudinal studies to assess the sustainability of these interventions.