In 2012, CHS became one of the first healthcare organizations in the country to create a federally-listed patient safety organization. This effort kicked off the organization’s journey to zero preventable harm, with 2012 data serving as a safety baseline.
Since then, CHS has deployed specific high-reliability leadership methods, human error prevention behaviors and a structured cause analysis approach to prevent harm.
The healthcare organization’s serious safety event rate has fallen 89% since 2013, with reductions seen in events related to medication errors, patient falls and healthcare-associated infections, among other areas.
Researchers highlighted their approach in a case study published Nov. 15 in NEJM Catalyst Innovations in Care Delivery.