Changes to the NPSGs, effective July 1, 2020, include minor editorial revisions and moving some requirements to the standards; there are no new NPSGs.
The NPSGs identify high-priority patient safety topics to help accredited organizations focus their resources to address these urgent areas of concern. Because of the importance of these topics, NPSGs are assessed during every accreditation survey. Health care organizations have made significant strides forward on many of the safety topics covered by the current NPSGs; however, other safety priorities have emerged.
Based on this review, the following NPSGs will move to the standards:
• NPSG.01.03.01—Transfusion errors related to patient misidentification
• NPSG.07.03.01—Multidrug-resistant organisms
• NPSG.07.04.01—Central line–associated bloodstream infections
• NPSG.07.05.01—Surgical site infections
• NPSG.07.06.01—Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
Reviewers determined that additional progress toward patient safety is required for the following topics that are being retained as NPSGs:
• NPSG.01.01.01—Patient identification
• NPSG.02.03.01—Critical test results
• NPSG.03.04.01—Labeling medications in perioperative and other procedural settings
• NPSG.03.05.01—Reducing harm from anticoagulation therapy
• NPSG.03.06.01—Accurate medication information
• NPSG.06.01.01—Clinical alarms
• NPSG.07.01.01—Hand hygiene
• NPSG.09.02.01—Reducing risk of falls
• NPSG.14.01.01—Pressure ulcer risk assessment and action
• NPSG.15.01.01—Suicide risk
• NPSG.15.02.01—Home oxygen safety
• UP.01.01.01, UP.01.02.01, UP.01.03.01—Universal Protocol
There are many organizations that we visit that do not have updated NPSG posters or information posted for the staff. Please review yours today and ensure that you are reinforcing and teaching staff the most current version of the National Patient Safety Goals.