Living patient safety every day is a central goal of University Hospital Vienna and MedUni Vienna. In 2024, University Hospital Vienna and MedUni Vienna are once again joining forces in the global WHO campaign and illuminating the main buildings in the campaign color orange. On September 17, 2024 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, experts will be on hand at information stands to provide information on key aspects of patient safety, from wound management, medication knowledge and hand hygiene to resuscitation in infants, safety in cancer diagnoses and blood donation.
Knowledge of wound management supports the healing process
Modern wound management has become increasingly important in recent years. One focus is on the care of patients with complex or chronic wounds, as those affected often experience many stressful situations over a longer period of time and a significantly greater impairment in quality of life and coping with everyday life than patients with acute wounds. Wound management is one of the central focal points of care at Vienna General Hospital. In order to do justice to the complexity of multi-professional care for people with chronic or complex wounds, a separate quality process on wound management has been implemented. Wound management experts advise, support and accompany patients with wound care according to indication with a high level of expertise and involve the relatives of those affected.
At the "Modern wound management at University Hospital Vienna" information stand, patients will receive individual information on the topic of wounds and an insight into phase-appropriate wound care.
Reduce the risks of multiple medication with medication knowledge
Six years ago, the first and only special outpatient clinic for drug therapy and interactions in Austria was set up at University Hospital Vienna. An interdisciplinary team of doctors from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and clinical pharmacists from the hospital pharmacy advise patients on all’aspects of drug therapy. "Patients who take several different medications may experience increased side effects, interactions, reduced adherence or an increased hospitalization rate. In the special outpatient clinic for drug therapy and interactions at Vienna General Hospital, these people are advised by experts in multiple medication in order to prevent drug-related problems," says Martina Anditsch, Head of the Hospital Pharmacy at University Hospital Vienna.
At the information stand of the special outpatient clinic, the team will provide information on aspects of drug therapy safety. An outpatient appointment can be arranged directly on site.
Preventing infections through hand hygiene
Hygienic hand disinfection is the simplest and most effective measure to prevent the transmission of pathogens and thus the occurrence of infections. "Hands are considered the most common carrier of pathogens in the healthcare sector. Patients and visitors to hospitals can make an important contribution to protecting themselves and others from pathogens and infectious diseases by practicing proper hand hygiene," points out Elisabeth Presterl, Head of the Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control at University Hospital Vienna and MedUni Vienna.
On Patient Safety Day, the team from the Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control will be demonstrating how to disinfect hands correctly.
Children’s resuscitation: safety for the little ones
If a child is unconscious and no longer breathing, quick help can be life-saving. It is therefore important to know what to do in an emergency and how first aiders can perform chest compressions on very young children before the emergency services arrive. "In order to be able to handle such an emergency situation well and safely, basic knowledge of resuscitation in children is extremely important," says Angelika Berger, Head of the Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP).
Regular training in complex emergency situations involving children, newborns and premature babies is crucial for medical and nursing teams in order to be able to take precise medical measures and make time-critical decisions. Simulation training is particularly effective, using lifelike child simulators to train critical situations in pediatric emergency medicine under realistic conditions.
On International Patient Safety Day, the Pediatric Simulation team will be giving an insight into emergency training on the premature infant simulator and providing information on resuscitation measures for children.
Tumor boards: Precise diagnosis as the first step towards successful cancer treatment
Thanks to state-of-the-art methods such as detailed tumor cell analyses and high-quality imaging, individually tailored treatment plans can now be developed. In the tumor boards of Vienna General Hospital and MedUni Vienna, experts from various disciplines work together to find the best possible treatment for each patient. In 2023, 7,452 patients were presented to 23 tumor boards with the aim of maximizing diagnostic certainty. "Today, we talk about personalized medicine in cancer therapy. A precise diagnosis is the basis for a precise therapy that is individually adapted to the person," says Shahrokh Shariat, Head of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna.
At the Comprehensive Cancer Center’s information stand, experts will provide insights into interdisciplinary collaboration in the tumor board.
Saving lives with blood donations
In order to ensure the safe and effective treatment of patients with blood products such as blood plasma, red blood cell concentrates or platelet concentrates, many work steps must be carried out with the utmost care and quality, from production and testing to the administration of various blood products. "At the Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, there are numerous control mechanisms and processes for handling blood products that ensure that only healthy and compatible donors and safe blood products are used for the treatment of donors and patients," says Antonia Müller, Head of the Department of Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy.
At the information stand, the clinic team will be providing information on the safety aspects behind the donation and transfusion of blood products and how they ensure maximum safety.
