Our Commitment to Patient Safety
At TPMG, nothing is more important than the safety of our patients. Our dedicated team of clinical staff receives ongoing education and training to enhance safety practices and reduce the potential for error. Ensuring a safe environment is a team effort, we can all make a difference.
“TPMG has a long-standing history of rigorous safety standards that influence every aspect of care for our patients. We are devoted to improving our patient and employee health through ongoing employee education and training as well as innovative medical protocols that promote a safe environment.”
- John P. Bryant, MD, Founding Member of TPMG
“At TPMG we believe that we have a responsibility to promote a culture of patient and employee safety. Patient safety initiatives are embedded in the daily activity of our health care teams and office staff.
Employees are encouraged to participate in safety initiatives by serving as safety officers, attending regular safety committee meetings, and completing annual re-training education.
Patient safety and the safety of our team members is our priority.”
– Sibby Wilson, COO
Preventing Slips, Trips, & Falls
Falls can be dangerous in any environment, including the healthcare setting. According to the National Safety Council, more than 8 million people have been treated in emergency rooms for fall-related injuries in 2019. One slip, trip, or fall could have disastrous consequences, which is why we prepare our facilities to mitigate any risk of injuries.
At TPMG, we take injury risk seriously and promote measures to enhance safety and reduce the potential for injury. Our medical facilities come equipped with handrails, floor mats, and other safety materials that will reduce the risk of slips, trips, and falls. Staff also receive ongoing training and have safety protocols in place in the event of an incident. Our annual net learning programs help to ensure that our staff is prepared with the latest healthcare safety measures. If you require assistance entering or leaving one of our offices, please reach out to a TPMG staff member who will gladly assist.
Mask Wearing
Most TPMG offices do not require masks, however, it is at the discretion of the managing physician for the site you are visiting, that site may require the patient, any visitors, and staff, to continue to wear a mask that is appropriate for respiratory illnesses (e.g. COVID-19, RSV, flu, etc). If you do not have a mask, one may be provided for you. For more information, click here.
Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene is the best protection against infection. The CDC recommends washing your hands in soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after meals, after using the restroom, before and after handling foods with bacteria, like raw chicken, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If you don’t have access to soap and water, try using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Handwashing is a great way to prevent numerous infections in a healthcare setting including pink eye, gastrointestinal illness, and respiratory illnesses.
TPMG employees adhere to strict hand washing guidelines to reduce the likelihood of spreading bacteria from one patient to another. Additionally, patients can find alcohol-based hand sanitizers in all of our TPMG offices.
Medication Safety
Although medicine is an important tool in the management and treatment of diseases and chronic conditions, it can also become dangerous if patients fail to use it as directed. The CDC estimates that adverse drug events (ADEs) are responsible for almost 1.3 million emergency department visits each year in the U.S. ADEs are any injury or harm resulting from medication use, including allergic reactions, side effects, improper use of medication, overdose, and more. While dangerous, most ADEs are preventable with correct medication safety education. TPMG patients are advised to speak up with questions concerning new or current medications they are taking.
Expired medicines can be less effective and dangerous if taken past its expiration date. Maintain a well-managed medicine cabinet and ask your doctor about authorized medication drop-off sites like local pharmacies or police stations. Prescription medications cannot be accepted at just any site. Click here to see two authorized collectors in Hampton Roads.
Routine Vaccination
As a healthcare facility that provides direct patient care, TPMG recognizes the importance of immunizations to safeguard the health of our staff and protect patients from the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines not only keep individuals healthy but also help keep communities safe.
Working with our body’s immune systems, vaccines bolster our ability to fight deadly diseases and infections preventatively. Most vaccines work the same way: by introducing a weakened or dead form of a bacteria or virus into the body, triggering an immune response, which elevates our body’s production of T-lymphocytes and antibodies. This way, our body will “remember” to create an immune response if it is exposed to a living infection in the future.
Although controversial for some, vaccines are an incredible force for the prevention of deadly diseases and infections across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vaccines save 2-3 million lives each year.
Information Check
Be careful with sharing sensitive information about your health online. Utilize our safe and secure Patient Portal to connect with your provider in the comfort of your own home or on-the-go with our mobile app. Patient Portal is an online service that allows TPMG patients to:
- View their electronic health record notes and test results
- Request refills of medication
- Request appointments
- Communicate with their provider and his/her staff
Access our HIPAA compliant Patient Portal at mytpmpg.com/patient-portal.
See Something, Say Something
If you see something out of the ordinary, please speak up and tell a TPMG staff member. Suspicious individuals, suspicious behavior, and suspicious packages need to be brought to the attention of our staff to ensure the safety of all.
Driving and Parking Safety
Practicing safe driving is critical to ensure the safety of yourself, other drivers, and pedestrians. Here are a few tips to remember while driving and parking. Lock your car and do not leave any valuables behind. Park in a well-lit area. Stay off technology while driving. Look both ways while moving through a parking lot. Follow all traffic signs including yield signs, stop signs, and directional arrows.