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. 2025 Feb 25;14(1):e003101.
doi: 10.1136/bmjoq-2024-003101.

Assessing the effectiveness of leader rounding for high reliability: a quality improvement initiative

John S Murray  1 , Joan Clifford  2
Affiliations

Assessing the effectiveness of leader rounding for high reliability: a quality improvement initiative

John S Murray et al. BMJ Open Qual. .

Abstract

High reliability organizations in healthcare are responsible for consistently maintaining high levels of safety and quality over extended periods of time and across multiples service lines and settings. In order to accomplish this, transparent and bi-directional communication across service lines and teams with organizational leaders is essential. Leader rounding for high reliability helps to ensure effective communication takes place. Developing and implementing an evidence-based process for leader rounding for high reliability is important as is determining effectiveness over time. We describe an initiative for assessing effectiveness after an evidence-based process for leader rounding for high reliability was created and implemented for the Veterans Affairs Bedford Healthcare System.

Keywords: Healthcare quality improvement; Quality improvement; Safety culture.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Three pillars of high reliability organisation (HRO). Source: Veterans Health Administration.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Murray JS, Baghdadi A, Dannenberg W, et al. The Role of High Reliability Organization Foundational Practices in Building a Culture of Safety. Fed Pract. 2024;41:214–21. doi: 10.12788/fp.0486. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cox GR, Starr LM. VHA’s Movement for Change: Implementing High-Reliability Principles and Practices. J Healthc Manag. 2023;68:151–7. doi: 10.1097/JHM-D-23-00056. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Murray JS, Clifford J, Scott D. Leader Rounding for High Reliability and Improved Patient Safety. Fed Pract. 2024;41:16–21. doi: 10.12788/fp.0444. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Huang C-H, Wu H-H, Lee Y-C, et al. The Critical Role of Leadership in Patient Safety Culture: A Mediation Analysis of Management Influence on Safety Factors. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2024;17:513–23. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S446651. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Murray J, Sorra J, Gale B, et al. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, US Department of Health and Human Services; 2024. Ensuring patient and workforce safety culture in healthcare. PSNet.

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