Patient safety and medical errors: a focus on care transitions of the vulnerable older patient

The delivery of quality medical care includes the reduction of patient exposure to potentially adverse events that can lead to unnecessary suffering and disability or possibly death. Elderly patients residing in long-term care facilities are often transferred to emergency rooms for evaluation and management of an exacerbation of a chronic medical condition or an acute injury. Studies show that nursing home residents may be at higher risk for experiencing adverse medical events that lead to serious patient safety and quality of care concerns. These risks may be attributable to lack of effective communication among caregivers who help transition patients across acute care settings. This article reviews some of the challenges inherent in a complex system of care as elderly patients traverse healthcare settings and discusses the need to create system wide changes that will help prevent medical errors and improve patient safety for an at risk vulnerable population.