Is It Still Time for Safety Walkaround? Pilot Project Proposing a New Model and a Review of the Methodology

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Healthcare facilities are complex systems due to the interaction between different factors (human, environmental, management, and technological). As complexity increases, it is known that the possibility of error increases; therefore, it becomes essential to be able to analyze the processes that occur within these contexts to prevent their occurrence, which is the task of risk management. For this purpose, in this feasibility study, we chose to evaluate the application of a new safety walkaround (SWA) model. Materials and Methods: A multidisciplinary working group made up of experts was established and then the subsequent phases of the activity were divided into three stages, namely the initial meeting, the operational phase, and the final meeting, to investigate knowledge regarding patient safety before and subsequently through visits to the department: the correct compilation of the medical record, adherence to evidence-based medicine (EBM) practices, the overall health and the degree of burnout of the various healthcare professionals, as well as the perception of empathy of staff by patients. Results: This working group chose to start this pilot project in the vascular surgery ward, demonstrating the ability of the tool used to capture the different aspects it set out to collect. In detail, the new version of SWA proposed in this work has made it possible to identify risk situations and system vulnerabilities that have allowed the introduction of corrective tools; detect adherence to existing company procedures, reschedule training on these specific topics after reviewing, and possibly update the same procedures; record the patient experience about the doctor–patient relationship and communication to hypothesize thematic courses on the subject; evaluate workers’ perception of their health conditions about work, and above all reassure operators that their well-being is in the interest of the management of the healthcare company, which is maintained. Conclusions: Therefore, the outcome of the present study demonstrates the versatility and ever-present usefulness of the SWA tool.

Keywords

• risk management
• safety walkarounds
• patient engagement