Improving the Culture of Safety with a Patient Safety Corps

Purpose:
When St. Francis Hospital developed and implemented a Patient Safety Corps incident reporting was very low and reporting was often punitive. Staff members' reluctance to report incidents hindered a culture of patient safety that was needed in the organization.

Significance:
Staff members' reluctance to report incidents hindered a culture of patient safety that was needed in the organization.

Strategy and Implementation:
Through the guidance and direction of our Patient Safety Director, an innovative quality improvement collaborative was designed to improve patient safety and prevent harm through out the organization. The multidisciplinary Patient Safety Corps team has produced notable innovations and results such as the development of the SAFE Line for reporting occurrences by telephone resulting in significant increases in the number of reported safety incidents and concerns, and saved lives since the intervention process was introduced. Participation in the St. Francis Culture of Safety survey doubled as compared to previous years as a result of the team's efforts to engage staff in improving the culture of safety in the organization.

Evaluation:
The culture of safety shifted from punitive to a partnering problem solving approach where raising concerns is recognized and rewarded. This is evidenced in the excellence in Patient Safety Awards presented to staff members who actively intervene to promote patient safety.

Implications for Practice:
The Patient Safety Corps now demonstrates a commitment to teach, lead and guide all constituents to achieve competencies in many spheres of the healthcare profession. Because of our culture of safety, our patients can feel confident about the provision of care they receive in our organization.