Patient safety depends on care team safety: Takeaways from the Press Ganey safety in healthcare report

10.29.2024

by Liz Boehm
Executive Strategist, Human-Centered Research

In healthcare circles, you hear a lot of talk about patient safety. Separately, you hear quite a bit about team member safety. But “separately” is the key word. The two are rarely talked about as being one in the same, but we believe (and there is evidence to support it) they are interconnected. Patient safety depends on team member safety. And this idea was echoed in the Safety in healthcare 2024 report published by Press Ganey. Below are some key takeaways.

Foster patient and team member safety

Healthcare workers need and deserve to feel confident that their organization empowers them to deliver safe care. This helps foster a positive work environment, leading to higher morale, employee engagement, retention – and trust. According to the Press Ganey report, “Safety culture and employee engagement go hand in hand and reinforce each other. When team members’ perceptions of safety culture are high (4.00 or above), engagement ranks in the 98th percentile. Conversely, when perceptions of safety culture are low (less than 4.00), engagement ranks in the 2nd percentile.”

As our Heart of Safety Coalition advances an expanded definition of safety, we’re encouraged that other industry voices are making the critical connection between patient safety and care team member safety. There is no question that patient care and safety depend on the just treatment and the emotional, psychological and physical safety of healthcare professionals.

Advance a culture of safety

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the factors contributing to workplace violence, created an environment of unprecedented stress, and exposed the impact of systemic inequities and racial injustice. This became a strong wake-up call for healthcare leaders to take action, but safety culture still has a long way to go. According to the report, “In the past year, improvements in safety culture were seen across all domains. Overall safety culture scores are up, from 3.99 out of 5 in 2022 to 4.01 in 2023.” That’s good news. So, what’s the bad news? “Nearly half (48.5%) of employees still have a low perception of safety
culture, rating it below 4.00 on a 5-point scale.”

There are many ways to approach team member safety and wellbeing. The biggest debates tend to pit solutions that support individual resilience and wellbeing (e.g., breathwork, mindfulness, fitness, sleep, etc.) against systemic improvement frameworks (e.g., reduced administrative burden, simplified workflows, acuity-based staffing models, etc.). This debate often misses some important nuances to drive sustainable transformation. Culture is the context for both, as humans are an essential source of safety for system resilience. It’s essential for every team member to feel valued, protected and supported as the foundation of a patient safety culture.

Bridge gaps, build trust

Creating a culture of safety starts with listening. When perceptions and expectations are at odds it can be difficult to build trust. According to the report, “Senior management feels positive about the safety cultures in their organization, rating it 4.53 out of 5.” However “advanced practice provider (APP) and RN roles consistently have lower perceptions of safety culture across all components, with scores coming in at 3.92 and 3.95, respectively.”

This sizable gap points to a critical need for better understanding across multiple factors and levels of an organization. Human-centered leadership can help build trust and a culture of safety. Embracing and mastering this leadership model takes a commitment to self reflection, connecting with team members on a personal and professional level, and aligning decisions to the organization’s mission. Cultivating authentic human connections, focusing on integrity and belonging, and celebrating shared purpose and accomplishments can reap many rewards for individuals and the organization.

Expand the definition of safety

The Press Ganey report’s summary states, “Prioritizing safety goes beyond measuring outcomes and incidents. A robust safety culture—where employees believe safety is a core value, feel empowered to report concerns, and know that their organization is committed to continuous improvement—is the foundation of a thriving healthcare system.”

I agree—and I would go a step further. A true culture of safety must integrate programs and policies that protect team member’s physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing as well as safeguard them and their patients from bias, racism and discrimination. The time is now to disrupt the status quo and redefine care team safety for a better, safer and more inclusive future of caring.

Patient safety depends on care team safety: Takeaways from the Press Ganey safety in healthcare report

10.29.2024

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