Leadership behaviors, attitudes and characteristics to support a culture of safety

Abstract

It has been estimated that medical errors are the third highest-ranking cause of death in the United States. A patient safety culture has been touted for many years as best practice to reduce medical error. While there is a general agreement of its importance, it has remained elusive for many. This study sought to learn how strengthening leadership skills within a health care organization could catalyze patient safety culture improvement. The research asked the following to gain an appreciation for that question: How does a leader ensure consistency in policies, practices, and protocols to create a patient safety culture? What attitudes, beliefs, and collective efficacy are needed to produce a patient safety culture? What leadership characteristics are needed to create a patient safety culture? The research participants were the employees who make up the patient safety department in a large academic health care system. Information was gathered to capture their view of leadership's role in patient safety culture and to gain knowledge relative to their individual experiences following a medical error.

Understanding the Root Cause Analysis Process to Increase Safety Event Reporting

“…Such communication should encourage personnel to continue to report safety events because they are aware that their concerns are a priority and will be addressed. 7…”

“…They also may think that the goal of an RCA is to blame an individual and that they will lose their job if they report a safety event 6 . Perioperative nurses may believe that a safety concern will not be addressed after submitting a report 7 because they assume leaders will consider the concern to be only a minor annoyance. However, even minor annoyances may have the potential to effect a system change that will prevent patient harm.…”

“…Perioperative nurse leaders and educators can support a culture of safety by being transparent and open with frontline personnel, especially when errors occur 7 . When personnel report a safety or sentinel event, leaders should perform appropriate follow‐up (eg, initiate an RCA) and close the communication loop with the affected personnel.…”

“…When personnel report a safety or sentinel event, leaders should perform appropriate follow‐up (eg, initiate an RCA) and close the communication loop with the affected personnel. Such communication should encourage personnel to continue to report safety events because they are aware that their concerns are a priority and will be addressed 7 …”

“…Perioperative nurse leaders and educators can support a culture of safety by being transparent and open with frontline personnel, especially when errors occur. 7 When personnel report a safety or sentinel event, leaders should perform appropriate follow-up (eg, initiate an RCA) and close the communication loop with the affected personnel. Such communication should encourage personnel to continue to report safety events because they are aware that their concerns are a priority and will be addressed.…”