7 Actions to Improve Healthcare Worker and Patient Safety

Leaders' commitment to patient safety is critical for improving both patient and healthcare worker safety and engaging frontline workers in safety efforts, according to a report in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety.

Panels of frontline workers and other stakeholders discussed frontline workers' role in patient safety and how they experience safety in a workshop Oct. 25 in Washington, D.C. The panels identified the following seven action items to improve patient and worker safety and involve frontline workers in safety initiatives, according to the report:



•    Start with leaders' commitment and support to implement safety initiatives.

•    "Implement labor-management partnerships that engage all workers by expanding team approaches and by creating frontline safety monitors," the report stated.

•    Collect and analyze data on infection control, adverse event reporting, risk management and patient and worker satisfaction to guide interventions. Track illnesses and injuries for both workers and patients.

•    "Train on quality core competencies," according to the report.

•    Create a just culture.

•    Develop a multidisciplinary quality and safety committee.

•    Focus on key issues across departments and programs.

More Articles on Patient Safety:

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Why Has Patient Safety Not Improved Significantly? 7 Possible Reasons

Patient Safety Tool: Checklist for Healthcare Personnel Flu Immunization

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