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The effects of physical environments in medical wards on medication communication processes affecting patient safety
journal contribution
posted on 2014-03-01, 00:00 authored by W Liu, Elizabeth ManiasElizabeth Manias, M GerdtzPhysical environments of clinical settings play an important role in health communication processes. Effective medication management requires seamless communication among health professionals of different disciplines. This paper explores how physical environments affect communication processes for managing medications and patient safety in acute care hospital settings. Findings highlighted the impact of environmental interruptions on communication processes about medications. In response to frequent interruptions and limited space within working environments, nurses, doctors and pharmacists developed adaptive practices in the local clinical context. Communication difficulties were associated with the ward physical layout, the controlled drug key and the medication retrieving device. Health professionals should be provided with opportunities to discuss the effects of ward environments on medication communication processes and how this impacts medication safety. Hospital administrators and architects need to consider health professionals' views and experiences when designing hospital spaces.
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Journal
Health and placeVolume
26Pagination
188 - 198Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
eISSN
1873-2054Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
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