The purpose of the research was to study how healthcare organizations can use innovative human resource practices, also called high-performance work practices, to promote safety and quality in healthcare. Below are key findings or best practices from the agency’s research:
• Engage staff. Common practices include formal mechanisms for communicating organizational mission, vision, values or priorities to employees and widespread use of employee recognition and rewards.
• Align leaders. Common practices include management training curricula and leadership development for promising mid-level managers.
• Acquire and develop talent. Common practices include offering market-competitive salaries/benefits, utilizing selective hiring practices and focusing on employee development.
• Empower the frontline. Common practices include emphasizing redeployment instead of layoffs, supporting employees to speak up and use of shared governance models.
Read the AHRQ executive summary on high-performance work practices in full.
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