الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Ensuring patients’ safety is one of the top priorities of health care. Patient safety practice refers to processes or structures which, when applied, reduce the probability of adverse events resulting from exposure to the health-care system across a range of diseases and procedures. In October 2004 WHO launched a patient safety programme. Maternal and newborn care is a priority area for WHO since more than two million babies and mothers die worldwide each year from childbirth complications.
Developmental care refers to the impact of the NICU environment on infant. Aspects of the environment, such as lighting , sound, humidity and handling are important. Standards for NICU design should be taken into consideration to have a safe NICU.
Neonatal patients are at increased risk for developing HAI because of their immature immune system, need for central access to deliver adequate nutrition and medications, and immature skin barrier function. Neonates with HAI have poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes than their infection-free counterparts.
Medication errors are common in pediatrics and, in particular, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Errors with the potential to cause harm are eight times more likely to occur in the NICU as compared with adult settings in the hospital. In the NICU, physicians’ ordering errors were commonly noted due to incorrect patient weight, dose or units. In addition, mistakes in diluting medications, administration errors and documentation discrepancies were also noted. Computarized order entry, smart pumps and barcode system are promising technology advances to overcome medication errors. Promoting iatrogenic errors reporting and working in a team are corner stone in reducing medications errors. Medications safety checklist is tried.
Working of neonatology and obstetrics practioners in a team will help to improve neonatal safety. Several modalities to improve communication and teamwork can be adapted. The suggested modalities include case conferences, Debriefings after high-risk deliveries and simulation-based training using delivery room scenarios.
The aim of understanding patient safety concept and applying it during neonatal care is to avoid the hazards of unsafe practice. Applying patient safety measures is expected to reduce hospital stay and to save economic resources which are great targets in such a developing country like Egypt.