When it comes to risk management in community hospitals, reacting swiftly to incidents is important but not enough. Effective risk management programs emphasize proactivity and prevention, not just damage control. Likewise, patient safety is paramount but by no means the sole focus.
How can your hospital’s risk manager, with support from the leadership team, foster safety culture across the enterprise?
Comprehensive risk management programs span the enterprise, from data security and regulatory compliance to food safety and environmental hazards. That’s why fostering a culture of safety, upheld by staff at all levels and in every department, is a foundational component of risk management.
How can your hospital’s risk manager, with support from the leadership team, foster safety culture across the enterprise?
Here are eight best practices:
- Conduct facility-wide risk management rounds on a regular basis to solicit input and observe how units are functioning.
- Establish an open-door policy with leadership to report risks, “close calls” and incidents.
- Create a non-punitive approach by supporting involved parties throughout the incident analysis, involving human resources if and when accountability is assigned.
- Treat every mistake or mishap as a learning experience.
- Complete formal incident reports to document and track events.
- Develop consistent policies and procedures to assess occurrences and drill down to their root cause.
- Determine next steps and action plans following an incident including ways to measure outcomes and effectiveness.
- Recognize department and staff safety achievements, individuals who report safety issues, and staff who offer ideas for improvement.
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