A training program focused on promoting team communication, leadership and strong decision-making practices improved employees' perceptions of their hospital's safety culture, according to a recent study published in the American Journal of Medical Quality.
For the study, employees from eight departments spanning three hospitals and two campuses participated in Crew Resource Management training. CRM training is focused on the cognitive and interpersonal skills needed to effectively manage a team-based, high-risk activity. The participants filled out surveys twice, once prior to receiving training in 2011 and then again two years later.
The 667 participants that completed both surveys reported improved perceptions in a variety of categories related to their hospital's culture, displaying a 9 percent increase in organizational learning, a 9 percent increase in frequency of mistakes reported, an 8 percent increase in communication openness, a 6 percent increase in teamwork within departments and a 4 percent increase in teamwork across departments.
The study's authors concluded, "Cultural transformation is possible, even in large, multihospital academic medical center. To be ultimately successful with a large-scale program of patient safety culture transformation, continual leadership engagement and endorsement is needed."
More articles on quality:
Illinois hospital receives AHA's top award for safety and quality
Antipsychotic drug reduces nausea symptoms from chemotherapy
Older patients' loss of independence linked to higher readmission, death rates