Australian Hospital Staff – please complete this very brief (less than 1 minute) survey to assess mobile phone reception (click here). The results will be used to help drive improved communication systems in the interest of patient safety. Perhaps the greatest impediment to patient safety is the inability for front […]

The Vortex Approach is designed to be used during the high-stakes, time critical situation of an evolving airway emergency. It is intended to help clinical teams perform under pressure by providing a simple, consistent template that can be taught to all clinicians involved in advanced airway management, irrespective of critical […]

Devices allowing simultaneous video & direct laryngoscopy represent a safety advantage over either direct laryngoscopes or video laryngoscopes. Intubation is more likely to be successful, with less airway trauma. The first attempt at intubation should be the best (and ideally the only) attempt. Laryngoscopes offering the combination of direct & […]

Human factors engineering teaches us that despite our best efforts accidental gas pipeline crossovers will persist. We need to focus on putting measured in place such that when these inevitable pipeline crossovers occur they do not lead to patient harm. For information see this link: https://wordpress.com/post/patientsafe.wordpress.com/5027 Help: We are looking […]

The Draeger anaesthetic machine has a poorly understood issue with its APL valve. When lifted it is actually open – even though it appears closed – creating an inability to pressurise the breathing circuit. Progress: The CEO of Dreager in Germany, Mr Stefan Draeger, had kindly contacted us directly ensuring […]

Central lines are essential for the care of many patients, however we estimate at least one patient dies worldwide every day from central line related air emboli (see here). All of these cases are avoidable. They tend to occur from: 1.  Accidental line disconnections 2. During line removal if patients […]