The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety: Bedside Electronic Monitoring of Patients Improves Safety

CHICAGO, Jan. 10, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- The Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety recently interviewed Dr. Jason McKeown (Associate Professor, Medical Director - Inpatient Pain Service, University of Alabama School of Medicine) on patient-controlled analgesia and the role that technology can play in improving patient safety.

As Dr. KcKeown says, "PCA has become the gold standard in postoperative pain treatment." However, he also reminds us, "while PCA may be the safest mode of opioid delivery it is true that regardless of the route of administration, respiratory depression may still occur."

What can be done to improve patient safety?

Dr. KcKeown makes two important observations.

The first is in remembering the historical role of the anesthesiologist in patient monitoring. Says Dr. McKeown, "it should be remembered that some of the most significant strides in medicine and surgery are directly attributable to anesthesiology's advances in patient monitoring."

The second is a prediction. Says Dr. McKeown:

"The end of the 20th century brought electronic monitoring like pulse oximetry which tells us the amount oxygen in a patient's blood and capnography which measures in real-time the adequacy of ventilation.  Electronic monitoring has dramatically improved patient safety.  I believe the 21st century will see the adoption of these modes of electronic monitoring at the bedside along with PCA techniques to provide the safest means of pain treatment possible. To have these tools and not use them would ignore anesthesiologists' historic dedication to patient safety."

The complete interview with Dr. McKeown can be found at http://wp.me/p1JikT-bx

About Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety (PPAHS) is an advocacy group devoted to improving patient health and safety. PPAHS is composed of physicians, patients, individuals, and organizations. Our website is http://ppahs.wordpress.com/

PPAHS is currently developing a caregiver safety checklist targeted towards patient-controlled analgesia and sedation. PPAHS has not received funding or grants. However, PPAHS is looking for support to help with this safety checklist initiative.

For expert commentary on this checklist initiative and how it may help to prevent "dead in bed" syndrome with patients after surgery, please see http://wp.me/p1JikT-6E

SOURCE Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

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