The Power Of Reflection
Medicine is a rich, complex journey full of developments and often fulfilling experiences, peppered with uncertainty, responsibility, and emotional intensity. Taking the time and receiving support to reflect on these experiences is vital to your personal wellbeing and can positively impact patient safety.
Medical mistakes happen more frequently than any of us would like. The NRLS receives over two million reports of medical incidents from the UK’s NHS alone and a 2018 Johns Hopkins study claims that medical errors are the third-leading cause of death in the US. Errors tend to stem from divided attention, poor communication skills, or lack of experience.
Following the 5 golden rules when mistakes are made is always important, however, the last rule is vital to avoid reoccurrence.
5 Golden Rules
- Be honest.
- Tell someone you’ve made an error as soon as possible.
- Apologize to the patient.
- Write an account or statement of events while the incident is fresh.
- Think about the approach you would take next time.
Rather than being a distraction from patient care, introspection and reflection help to consolidate learning and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness both personally and systemically.
