Response to Patient Safety Incidents Involving Older Adult Patients: Focusing on the Disclosure of Patient Safety Incidents

Patient safety refers to minimizing the risk of unnecessary harm associated with healthcare to an acceptable level, requiring systematic approaches in prevention, identification, and response.In Korea, the responses to patient safety incidents are often inadequate.The present study aimed to examine the communication procedures and considerations for the effective disclosure of patient safety incidents, especially those involving older adult patients.The disclosure of patient safety incidents involves informing patients and their families about the incidents, expressing empathy, and, if an error is confirmed, offering sincere apologies and appropriate compensation while committing to prevent recurrence.The process of disclosing patient safety incidents includes recognizing the occurrence of an incident, preparing, and conducting the initial disclosure, analyzing the incident, conducting a follow-up disclosure if necessary, and completing the disclosure with documentation.Multiple disclosure meetings may be necessary.For older adult patients, it is essential to ensure family involvement, use accessible language, and consider the unique needs of these patients.Written materials should also be provided when needed.Additional support and follow-up should be detailed, as older adult patients often require more assistance.Genuine expressions of empathy from the medical staff can foster trust and support emotional healing.Cultivating a patient safety culture that meets the unique needs of older adult patients requires robust institutional support and enrichment of educational programs for healthcare providers, ultimately advancing compassionate and transparent care.