Top 5 ways to lose the pounds
We see it all the time, patient weights recorded inconsistently, in both pounds and kilograms. On the surface, it’s just a funny holdover from the Imperial System. But the results can be serious. Imagine calculating the dose for a medication like an anti-coagulant using pounds when the dosage is based on kilograms?
So what can we do to ensure the safety of our patients? It’s simple, lose the pounds.
Top 5 ways to lose the pounds
- Think metric! Communicate in metric units, and ensure that weights are measured, documented and communicated in kg (or g for infants);
- Check the numbers 1 kg = 2.2 lbs; 136 kg = 300 lbs. Is that patient you’re caring for actually 300 lbs?
- Keep an eye on the scales embedded in lifts and beds. If they’ve been switched to imperial units (lbs), switch them back to metric (kg);
- Report inconsistencies – As with any safety hazard, bring the hazard to the attention of your supervisor by submitting a Safety Hazard SLS report on any outdated form or system that poses a risk for communicating patients’ weights.
How’s VCH losing the pounds?
We’ve been taking a number of steps to reduce the risk of communicating weight in lbs rather than kg (or g, for infants), including:
- Circulating a Safety Alert across the organization and to colleagues in the other health authorities;
- Raising awareness of the issue in both the 48/6 project and the Design and Build phase of the Clinical and Systems Transformation project (CST) to make metric units the standard.
- Checking out the scales across the organization including standalone, in beds and in ceiling lifts to determine whether imperial units (lbs) can be locked out and only metric (kg or g) displayed. We’ve also been working with our colleagues in Supply Chain at HSSBC to require this functionality on the purchase of new scales.
Help us lose the pounds
Join the discussion on the Up For Discussion blog and tell us how we can lose the pounds for patients safety.
Laura
Hi there
While I understand the intent of the campaign, I worry about the way the message is being delivered. Our team works with children, youth, and families and we often have our computer out with us at clinics and schools. The screensaver is not really appropriate for children and youth, particularly those struggling with disordered eating or obesity.
I wonder if there is a better way to get the message across and remove the screensaver from the rotation
Thanks
Laura
John
If you really want to lose the pounds stop comparing kg to lbs in your communications(“Check the numbers 1 kg = 2.2 lbs; 136 kg = 300 lbs. Is that patient you’re caring for actually 300 lbs?”). Similar to learning a new language, to really become proficient we have to start thinking in the metric system.
Darren Kopetsky
Thanks for your comment, John. I absolutely agree. We used the 136:300 example to highlight that it’s important to be alert to the fact that a weight might be reported (or displayed) in lbs. For example, if a scale happens to be (incorrectly) set to the outdated imperial lbs, or a patient provides their weight in lbs (e.g.136) and it is reported as kg, it could have significant consequences for medications etc. Being mindful to think, document, and communicate to others in metric is critical, as is considering whether the weight figures being communicated to us (by patients, scales, documents, etc) are being communicated in metric.
John
Darren,
I get why you do it. However,I still think it would be better, in terms of meeting your goals, to make your comparisons with things rather than pounds. So to use your 136 kg example, does the patient weigh as much as a giant panda or an average football linebacker?