Dive Brief:
- Staff at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the D.C. region's largest private hospital, have given it consistently low marks in key areas of patient safety over the past four years, according to survey results released July 18, The Washington Post said.
- The Post said perceptions of patient safety by doctors, nurses and administrators have improved over the four-year period, in some cases significantly. But Washington Hospital Center scores below the national average in seven of 12 patient safety measures in key areas, including overall perception of safety at the hospital and staff's ability to report mistakes without fear of retaliation.
- Results were based on Washington Hospital Center's participation in three surveys by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: in 2010, 2012 and February 2014. The hospital released results from 2012 and 2014 on July 18, after the National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of the nurses union, which has sought 2012 survey data: the first time the hospital released any of the survey results, the Post said.
Dive Insight:
The Post noted that AHRQ's surveys on patient safety culture are voluntary, providing a snapshot of hospital employees' perception of patient safety, and survey results show that improvement has been slow across the board. About 650 of the country's roughly 5,000 hospitals took part in the survey this year. The Post didn't release any further specifics on Washington Hospital Center's survey findings.
According to AHRQ, it sponsored the development of "patient safety culture assessment tools" as part of its goal to support a culture of patient safety and quality improvement in the U.S. healthcare system. The tools aren't just for hospitals; AHRQ also offers the survey tool to nursing homes, ambulatory outpatient medical offices, and community pharmacies.
AHRQ said healthcare organizations can use these survey tools to raise staff awareness about patient safety; diagnose and assess the current status of patient safety culture; and identify strengths and areas for improvement. The agency said the surveys also allow organizations to examine trends over time, and evaluate the cultural impact of patient safety initiatives and interventions.
Want to read more? You might enjoy this story about the recent Senate hearing about patient safety and this story about the 10 highest-grossing for-profit hospitals.