International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) — Nursing Notes

Definition

The IPSGs are a set of standards developed by the Joint Commission International (JCI) to help hospitals focus on the most problem-prone areas of patient care and reduce preventable harm. First issued in 2006, they have been revised in 2011, 2017, and 2021. They form a core part of hospital accreditation standards worldwide (including NABH-accredited hospitals in India).

The Goals (as per your image + current 2021 JCI version)

Goal	Focus	Key Nursing Actions
1. Identify patients correctly	Prevent wrong-patient errors	Use 2 identifiers (name + DOB, or name + MRN) before any procedure, medication, blood draw, or transfusion. Never use room number/location as an identifier. Use ID bands/bar codes.
2. Improve effective communication	Reduce errors from miscommunication, esp. verbal/telephone orders	Use read-back / repeat-back (SBAR, or "write down, read back, confirm"). Ensure critical test results are reported and documented within a defined time.
3. Improve safety of High-Alert medications	Prevent harm from drugs with high risk if used in error (insulin, opioids, anticoagulants, concentrated electrolytes like KCl)	Store high-alert drugs separately/labeled; independent double-check before administration; standardize concentrations; remove concentrated electrolytes from patient care units where not needed.
4. Ensure safe surgery	Prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, wrong-patient surgery	Surgical safety checklist (WHO checklist): Sign-In, Time-Out (site marking, team verification), Sign-Out before, during, and after surgery.
5. Reduce risk of Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAI)	Lower nosocomial infection rates	Strict hand hygiene (WHO 5 moments), use of PPE, aseptic technique for catheters/lines, isolation precautions, sterilization protocols.
6. Reduce risk of patient harm from falls	Prevent fall-related injuries	Fall-risk assessment on admission (e.g., Morse Fall Scale), bed alarms, non-slip footwear, side rails, frequent rounding, patient/family education.
7. Reduce harm from clinical alarm systems	Prevent "alarm fatigue" leading to missed critical alarms	Set appropriate alarm parameters, ensure alarms are audible, respond promptly, staff training on alarm management, periodic review of alarm settings.

Note: Older (2006–2017) versions listed only 6 goals (without the alarm-system goal, which was added later as awareness of "alarm fatigue" grew as a safety issue). Your image includes this 7th goal, consistent with the current 2021 JCI framework.

Quick Mnemonic for Exam Recall

"I C H S I F A" — or remember by theme:

Identify patient
Communicate effectively
High-alert medication safety
Safe surgery
Infection control (HAI)
Falls prevention
Alarm system safety

Why It Matters (Nursing Relevance)

IPSGs directly reduce sentinel events (wrong-patient/wrong-site errors, medication errors, HAI, falls).
Nurses are the frontline implementers — most goals (identification, communication, medication double-checks, fall risk, alarm response) fall within direct nursing responsibility.
Commonly tested in nursing licensure and hospital accreditation (NABH/JCI) exams.

Sources

Joint Commission International, International Patient Safety Goals
Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods — discussion of National Patient Safety Goals and correct patient identification, p. 1954-1956
Focusing on the International Patient Safety Goals - HCI
QAI Journal for Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety, "International Patient Safety Goals: Assessment of Knowledge" (2021 JCI update reference)

Let me know if you'd like these turned into a printable revision sheet (PDF/Word) or flashcards for quick recall before exams.

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