Patient Safety Culture in Practice – Experiences and Lessons Learnt by University Hospital Zurich

Quality management and patient safety are important considerations in the daily business of a modern hospital. Over the past few years University Hospital Zurich has implemented a number of tools and procedures as part of a strategic approach to this aspect of hospital management. Safety culture, which refers to underlying values, beliefs and behaviour in relation to safety and risk, is scarcely amenable to direct measurement. As well as establishing the baseline situation, the hospital management aimed to raise its employees’ awareness of the importance of safety culture and its various aspects and identify specific areas of action that could improve patient safety. Responses to the questionnaire created a basis for discussion and for a raising of awareness and a campaign on patient safety issues across all occupational groups and seniority levels within the organisation.