Healthcare professionals forum on safe infusion practices

To boost best patient care practices by minimising medication errors, treatment related complications and healthcare associated infections in hospitals, Infusion Nurses Society (INS) India, an international affiliate of the Infusion Nurses Society of the US, launched its forum in Hyderabad. This is the seventh INS forum in the country after Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi.

The aim of the forum is to provide nurses and related healthcare professionals a platform to exchange the latest knowhow about infusion therapy techniques, best practices and global infusion standards, resulting in better outcomes, higher patient satisfaction and safer care. It would disseminate standards of practice, provide professional development opportunities and quality education programs on infusion practices.

Shubhada Sakurikar, director-nursing, Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills, said, “The nursing council has taken one of the progressive initiatives to upgrade the standards of nursing education and training in the two Telugu states. The city forum is a step in the right direction, which will have a positive influence on the infusion practices.”

To mark the occasion, INS organised a day-long workshop at KIMS Hospital in association with BD, a leading global medical technology company, recently. Built around the theme of ‘Safe Infusion for Safer Healthcare,’ it offered educational sessions, case studies, hands-on simulation labs and a number of presentations from experts.

Col Binu Sharma, President, INS India, said, “Safe infusion practices are critical to good healthcare. Highly qualified and competent professionals play an important role in delivering quality and safe patient care. The city chapter will help improve the quality of infusion therapy administered by healthcare professionals and bring down the incidence of hospital-acquired health complications.”

According to WHO, one out of every 10 patients is harmed while receiving hospital care. At any given time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from infections acquired in hospitals. A number of disease outbreaks involving transmission of blood-borne pathogens due to unsafe infusion practices have been reported recently.

Debra Joseph, DGM, Nursing, KIMS Hospital, said, “Improper infusion practices may lead to complications, causing an increase in mortality, morbidity, duration of hospital stay and healthcare costs. It is important for healthcare professionals to keep themselves equipped with current knowledge and skills. City nurses must participate in appropriate learning and practice activities to develop and upgrade their competence.”