An evaluation of patient safety leadership walkarounds

Abstract

Patient safety leadership walkarounds (PSLWA) have been identified as an effective tool to improve patient safety culture. At Hamilton Health Sciences, after one year of monthly PSLWA in all clinical and service programs, 1,351 patient safety issues were identified, of which 64-80% have been resolved or have active improvement work in progress. Five hundred staff were invited to complete a process evaluation regarding the effectiveness of the current process of PSLWA. A total of 341 surveys were returned (68%). The overall evaluation demonstrated satisfaction with the process of PSLWA; 93% of those surveyed reported that they felt comfortable openly and honestly discussing patient safety issues and had an enhanced awareness of patient safety. Five areas of opportunity for process improvement were identified: scheduling, scripts, feedback, reporting and resolving issues deferred for an organization approach. PSLWA have offered an effective way to engage leadership and staff in open discussions about patient safety and collaborative approaches for solutions suggesting an enhanced patient safety culture.