Improving Safety Through Partnering With Patients: Preoccupation With Failure

Abstract

One way of improving patient safety within healthcare organizations is by working to being highly reliable. High reliability organizations (HROs) are not ordinary. They are organizations that operate in highly complex environments for extended periods of time without serious accidents or catastrophic failures. HROs have developed ways of managing the unexpected more so than other organizations despite working in fast-paced, high-risk environments. Working toward unfailing excellence in patient safety and quality across all disciplines and services becomes a mainstay for extended periods of time. It’s important to understand how these HRO organizations navigate this journey.