A new Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert issued today urges healthcare leaders to step up efforts to prevent errors by taking the zero-defect approach used in other high-risk industries such as aviation and nuclear energy. The Joint Commission is advocating greater involvement of healthcare trustees, executives, and physician leaders, contending that the overall safety and effectiveness of a healthcare facility depends on administrative and clinical leaders who set the tone, create the culture, and drive improvements.
The Sentinel Event Alert features 14 suggested actions that senior leadership can take to help prevent errors. Among its other recommendations, the Joint Commission encourages senior leadership to make a visible commitment of time and money to improve systems and processes needed to defend against hazards and minimize unsafe acts. For example, some organizations create an emergency patient safety fund.
Read the Joint Commission Sentinel Event Alert.
