Safety and quality in intensive care medicine

The safety and quality care are two attributes of the health care that are closely intertwined. Quality is a feature of the system that delivers health care, thereby improving it, we need a proper reorganization teamwork. Measurements of quality are intended to assess whether the process of health care reaches the desired objectives, while avoiding the processes that predispose to harm the patient. The critically ill patients are vulnerable to medical errors, and may experience side effects preventable, often associated with: medications, mechanical ventilation, and intravascular devices. The evidence currently available suggest that the safety and quality of care can be improved. In this article presents some of the strategies and interventions developed to optimize the processes of care in critically ill patients, and improve the safety culture in the ICU. (C) 2009 Elsevier Espana, S.L. and SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.