ABSTRACT
Once the foundation of a patient safety program has been established, the next step in the journey toward safer patient care is for the organization to create a culture in which all leaders, employees, and physicians drive patient safety aims, plans, and initiatives. A culture of patient safety is characterized by the ability of everyone to feel comfortable and supported in speaking up; recognition of staff who “speak up” to prevent errors or enhance safety; communication of questions, concerns, and ideas through Patient Safety WalkRounds™ and TalkRounds; Patient Safety Officer Huddle Calls; and the use of an organizational patient safety culture survey with site visits to understand and communicate about areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Patient safety should not represent additional work to the staff but should be part of their daily routine (see Figure 2.1).
