Patient Safety - Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is

It's easy to pay lip service to patient safety - after all, who could be against it?  So states the October 23rd issue of the Modern Healthcare article, What Patient Safety Looks Like. 

Patient safety slogans have become a mantra in today's healthcare environment.  But are our habits and culture really changing?  Are healthcare providers and industry leaders truly embracing safety, or are some simply embracing the latest buzz?

Actions speak louder than words. Much like the well-worn phrase employees are our greatest asset uttered by the business owner or manager whose actions reveal an altogether different attitude, those who speak but do not act fail to inspire trust.

The Modern Healthcare article goes on to state: An organization with a serious commitment to patient safety has a chief executive officer who embraces and champions safety.  In every interaction with members of his or her leadership team, as much attention is devoted to improving safety as to meeting financial goals. 

A significant amount of senior executives' incentive compensation is linked to attaining specific, measurable organizational goals for safety improvement.  These goals are also reflected in incentive compensation plans and employee performance evaluation criteria for all relevant clinical staff, including employed or contracted physicians.

Violations of safety policies (for example not washing hands between patients) result in disciplinary action, repeated violations may even result in termination or loss of privileges.

For real change to occur, each of us must believe and act on the statement patient safety begins with me.

Comments

[Parveen]

being a doctor,i personally feel the same that patients safety is must.