22 Leadership in action: an organization’s journey to elevating patient safety through safety rounds

Background Patient safety rounds are a critical tool used by healthcare organizations to promote a culture of safety by providing an opportunity for staff to engage with organizational leaders on patient safety-related issues. At William Osler Health System (Osler), Executive Patient Safety Rounds (EPSRs) evolved to adopt a structured, streamlined and automated approach through integration with digital iHuddle Boards (figure 1) and team huddles for proactive identification and resolution of safety concerns. Objectives This abstract highlights Osler’s journey in establishing EPSRs, their integration with existing safety processes and iHuddle Boards while assessing their impact on patient safety culture, as well as the importance of leadership commitment and process integration. Methods Osler initiated EPSRs after the need was highlighted through results of Accreditation Canada’s Patient Safety Culture Survey by securing strong executive leadership engagement. The process expanded to include senior leaders and directors conducting weekly rounds during the unit huddle time. Improvement opportunities are prioritized using a Risk Assessment Matrix (figure 2) and classified based upon impact and frequency of occurrence complemented by a Completion Threshold (figure 3) for timelines and added to an Improvement Priority Matrix (figure 4). An EPSR dashboard enhanced transparency, allowing progress monitoring and reporting up to the Executive Team and Board. Integration with iHuddle board empowered frontline staff to monitor progress thereby closing the feedback loop (figure 5). Results Adoption of an integrated approach yielded a remarkable 15% improvement in overall patient safety culture at Osler by proactively identifying and addressing potential risks and opportunities for improvement. Conclusions EPSRs prove instrumental in enhancing patient safety and instilling a safety culture. However, their success depends on leadership engagement, action plan execution, process integration and continual communication with frontline staff to sustain their impact. Osler’s journey exemplifies proactive leadership and serves as a model for other healthcare organizations seeking to elevate their patient safety standards.

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