By interviewing 158 hospital executives, managers and staff members across six hospitals, researchers have identified four factors that encourage hospital workers to address errors and improve healthcare safety culture.
Researchers analyzed transcripts of the participants' interviews to determine how hospital employees can help prevent central line-associated bloodstream infections and other safety hazards. They published their results in the American Journal of Infection Control.
Based on the interviews, the following four elements help create an environment in which employees feel comfortable speaking up about infections and safety culture.
- Evidence-based practices for CLABSI prevention
- Leader behavior and encouragement
- Employee training
- Error reporting systems
"Although the focus of this study was on CLABSI prevention, broader organizational practices to improve patient safety were salient in creating a nonpunitive, highly inclusive environment in which employees felt comfortable speaking up," according to the researchers.
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