Libraries are for checking out books, right? Think again!

In this episode, learn how rural librarian Dianne Connery became a community advocate in Pottsboro, Texas. In this retirement community, many residents cannot utilize technology for information/education. Find out how this community pioneer meets the needs of rural community members and the impacts of her efforts.

Pain management is a delicate practice, as accidental overdoses have quadrupled over two decades. How do prescribers balance pain relief without harm? In this episode, Dr. Emanuel George, an Associate Professor in the HSC College of Pharmacy, contrasts the differences between opioid and non-opioid pain medications and introduces non-pharmacologic methods for pain management. He also touches on legislation that promotes/hinders safety. Download this episode to learn more!

What is important to geriatric populations? Are there common patient safety risks they encounter at home? Learn about Age-Friendly Health Systems, an Institute for Healthcare Improvement initiative, and how it applies to this ever-growing vulnerable population. In this episode, Dr. Kate Taylor, Clinical Executive for SaferCare Texas and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner, explains how healthcare professionals should listen to what matters to them.

Listen to SaferCare Texas’ Director John Sims interview his wife, Karen Sims, as she shares her challenging healthcare journey. Her story began with a “routine” tonsillectomy which resulted in Steven Johnson Syndrome -- a rare and serious disease which usually presents itself as a severe reaction to medication -- and, eventually, cataracts. Listen to her story today!

Many people express pain following knee replacement surgery, but they report improved quality of life after rehabilitation. Typically, individuals have no more than two surgeries (one on each knee). In our second patient experience episode, meet Brett Wells as he shares his twelve-year journey following 39 surgeries! Brett talks about the circumstances leading to his injuries, how his journey reduced his quality of life, and both the positive and questionable experiences he had with healthcare providers.

One positive result from the Patient Safety and Quality Act of 2005 was Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs). Many healthcare professionals and laypeople hear the term “PSO” and believe they understand the purpose. PSOs align with the SaferCare Texas mission: to challenge traditional thinking to eliminate preventable harm. In this episode of Speak Up for SaferCare, listen as Karen Kendrick MSN, RN and the VP of Clinical Initiatives and Quality for the Texas Hospital Association, describes PSOs and how they improve patient safety and quality of care.

The pandemic spawned a healthcare worker burnout epidemic. During the Covid-19 case peaks, many already short-staffed workforces isolated those ill from Covid. Consequently, healthcare leaders faced challenging decisions to staff appropriately while maintaining safe operations. In this episode, Aaron Lopez RN, CEO of ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital of Weatherford, explains how his leadership team responded to their predicted staffing vacancies. Listen this week as Aaron explains how injecting fun into the workplace incentivizes staff to find their joy in the face of unprecedented circumstances.

Maternal mortality occurs with alarming frequency. With 17.4 maternal deaths/100,000 live births(1), the United States loses more new mothers than most other developed countries. What should be considered a joyous event far too often becomes a tragedy. As someone involved in the miracle of life, Katie Grennan, RN, CNM, shares her experiences as a doula and midwife and how practitioners might improve. Creator of the iOS app “What About Mom?” and previous Speak Up for SaferCare guest, Dr. Teresa Wagner, joins the discussion as the two provide special insight on how current “routine” practices may contribute to poor maternal outcomes.

1. High U.S. Maternal Mortality Rate." Statista, Statista Inc., 19 Nov 2020, https://www-statista-com.proxy.unthsc.edu/chart/23541/maternal-mortality-developed-countries/