How to involve the patient and family in improving safety in intensive medicine services (SMI)?

Abstract

Patient safety is a priority for health systems and is especially relevant for critically ill patients. Despite its relevance in recent years, many patients suffer adverse events with harm and negative repercussions for professionals and institutions. Numerous safe practices have been promoted and strategies have been developed that have been incorporated into institutional policies and thereby improving the safety culture. But there are still underdeveloped strategies, such as incorporating the participation of patients and family members in their safety. Until recently, the patient and family have been considered as a passive part in the reception of health services, not as an active part, much less as a possible opportunity to improve safety against errors that occur during care. The critically ill patient and/or family members must be informed and, ideally, trained to facilitate active participation in their safety. It is not about transferring responsibility, but about facilitating and promoting their participation by reinforcing their safety. And professionals must be committed to their safety and facilitate the conditions to encourage their participation. We provide tools and reflections to help professionals implement the participation of patients and family members in safety as they pass through intensive medicine services.