AHRQ Patient Safety Network - Patient Safety Primers

Safety Culture

Background

The concept of safety culture originated outside health care, in studies of high reliability organizations, organizations that consistently minimize adverse events despite carrying out intrinsically complex and hazardous work. High reliability organizations maintain a commitment to safety at all levels, from frontline providers to managers and executives. This commitment establishes a "culture of safety" that encompasses these key features:

acknowledgment of the high-risk nature of an organization's activities and the determination to achieve consistently safe operations
a blame-free environment where individuals are able to report errors or near misses without fear of reprimand or punishment
encouragement of collaboration across ranks and disciplines to seek solutions to patient safety problems
organizational commitment of resources to address safety concerns
Improving the culture of safety within health care is an essential component of preventing or reducing errors and improving overall health care quality. Studies have documented considerable variation in perceptions of safety culture across organizations and job descriptions. In prior surveys, nurses have consistently complained of the lack of a blame-free environment, and providers at all levels have noted problems with organizational commitment to establishing a culture of safety. The underlying reasons for the underdeveloped health care safety culture are complex, with poor teamwork and communication, a "culture of low expectations," and authority gradients all playing a role.

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AHRQ Patient Safety Network - Patient Safety Primers