Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare has taken numerous steps to embed safety work into daily operations across its 186 hospitals, Karla Miller, PharmD, the system's chief patient safety officer, wrote in a March 15 blog post.
Four ways HCA infuses patient safety into the organization's culture:
Patient safety organization. HCA launched a federally chartered patient safety organization 10 years ago that is overseen by its patient safety and care experience teams. This group oversees event reporting, patient experience and various medication safety efforts, according to Dr. Miller.
"Safe Table" discussions. These open forums allow team members to share concerns and ideas related to patient safety. Every year, the organization holds an enterprisewide "Safe Table" campaign where thousands of team members share insights that lead to local and systemwide changes across the organization. These sessions may occur in formal group settings or as impromptu discussions when leaders round on patient care units, according to Jessica Kirby, assistant vice president of quality at HCA Healthcare's Central and West Texas Division.
Culture of Caring initiative. This new initiative, launching in early 2024, will spotlight team members of HCA's Physician Services Group who go the extra mile to care for patients and colleagues. The goal is to recognize colleagues for compassionate care and empower others to do the same, Dr. Miller said.
Culture of Safety surveys. To measure progress on safety work, HCA uses the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Surveys on Patient Safety Culture. These surveys ensure team members' voices are heard and help inform the organization's safety agenda, according to Dr. Miller.