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Patient Safety Culture Analysis

Decent Essays

Quality and safety are inextricably linked. “Quality in health care is the degree to which its processes and results meet or exceed the needs and desires of the people it serves” (Jointcommission.org, 2016). Patient safety is the central goal of quality. According to the world health organization patient safety is the prevention of errors and adverse effects to patients that are associated with health care. Safety is what patients, families, staff and the public expect from the health care organizations. Although patient safety may not be entirely eliminated but harm to the patients can be reduced. Hospitals should have integrated approach to patient safety to provide high level of safe patient care in every settings and service. An integrated …show more content…

In a strong safety culture, organization has an insistent commitment to safety and do no harm. The safety culture of an organization is the product of individual and group beliefs, values, attitudes, perceptions, competencies, and patterns of behavior that determine the organization’s commitment to quality and patient safety. In safety culture, staff and leaders value transparency, accountability and mutual respect. Behaviors that challenge a culture of safety are not acceptable and need to be reported. In a safety culture, leaders should ensure that intimidating or unprofessional behaviors within the profession are addressed and reported. They need to educate staff and hold them accountable for their professional behavior. This includes the adoption and promotion of a code of conduct that defines acceptable behavior as well as behaviors that undermine a culture of safety. Intimidating and disrespectful behaviors interrupt the culture of safety and inhibit communication, collaboration and teamwork, which is obligatory for safe and highly reliable patient care (Jointcommission.org, …show more content…

“Teamwork in health is defined as two or more people who interact interdependently with a common purpose, working toward measurable goals that benefit from leadership that maintains stability while encouraging honest discussion and problem solving” (HRH Global Resource Center, 2014). Research found that incorporating services among many health care providers can result in better care. Teamwork among healthcare providers improve the practices of collaboration and communication and can expand the roles of healthcare providers and to make decisions as a unit that works toward a common goal. Team work and collaboration is important to care of patients in a decentralized health system with many levels of health workers. Healthcare teams are made up of health professionals from different specialties must work together, communicate often and share resources to solve the health problems of the patient (HRH Global Resource Center, 2014). Communication and team work is important to provide effective and safe care as the patient is treated by multidisciplinary healthcare team and in a variety of clinical settings. Lack of communication can risk patient safety and patient care outcomes. Evidences show that lack of communication among health care providers are the major cause of medical errors (Ammouri et al., 2014). To develop health promotion for diverse communities and instill disease prevention behaviors amongst patients, health

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