PATIENT SAFETY IN HEALTHCARE SERVICES: PREVENTING ADVERSE EVENTS AND STRENGTHENING QUALITY OF CARE

Resumen

Patient safety is an essential dimension of healthcare quality, particularly given the possibility of incidents and adverse events associated with care processes. This study is a qualitative, descriptive literature review aimed at analyzing strategies for preventing adverse events and strengthening patient safety and quality of care in healthcare services. The methodology was based on an analysis of scientific publications and technical and regulatory documents concerning patient safety, risk management, safety culture, and the prevention of avoidable harm. The results show that adverse events are associated with multiple factors involving organizational aspects, work processes, communication among professionals, patient identification, medication administration, infection prevention, and the performance of procedures. The strategies identified include implementing care protocols, reporting and analyzing incidents, providing continuing education for healthcare teams, promoting effective communication, and strengthening an institutional culture focused on learning and risk prevention. It is concluded that patient safety depends on continuous, systematic, and integrated actions capable of reducing risks and contributing to safer, more efficient, and patient-centered care.