Dr. McGonigal drives strategic patient safety initiatives at both the system and hospital levels across Allegheny Health Network, with a focus on achieving zero harm and ensuring 100% evidence-based care delivery. She led the successful systemwide implementation of just culture across the network’s 10 hospitals, which significantly improved incident reporting and transparency, and oversaw the implementation of the “Condition Help” patient advocacy program and the establishment of a diagnostic excellence committee. Her externally recognized work includes an Association of periOperative Registered Nurses podium presentation and PSA webinar on a network quality improvement journey in operating room specimen handling, a Vizient webinar on optimizing event reporting to impact mortality and length of stay, and a peer-reviewed publication in Patient Safety. Dr. McGonigal collaborated with the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety in developing the certified professional in age-friendly healthcare credential, contributing to the development of the examination as a subject matter expert. Five Allegheny Health Network hospitals have earned Leapfrog “A” safety grades under her leadership.
