Safety First

Abstract

In hospitals, the Director (CEO) is responsible for patient safety in the entire hospital. Similarly, the clinical leaders are responsible for patient safety within their respective units. Patient safety is about good systems and clear responsibilities throughout the organization. Furthermore, there is need for a formal structure to support the clinical leaders in their work with patient safety. This includes a director of patient safety centrally in the hospital and patient safety officers in each large clinical unit. Furthermore, there must be a patient safety committee which reviews all serious events and takes initiatives to improve clinical practice. In most cases, medical errors are due to system weaknesses, and therefore the leaders are as responsible as employees when medical errors happen.

A key element in patient safety is that clinical leaders should have continuous access to health outcome data and complication numbers in order to change clinical routines when needed. The safety work should be integrated into the daily clinical practice at the small and large units. The clinical leaders should be active and visible as role models in their work with patient safety.