AHRQ Patient Safety Network ► Positive deviance: a different approach to achieving patient safety.

AHRQ Patient Safety Network



Positive deviance: a different approach to achieving patient safety.

Lawton R, Taylor N, Clay-Williams R, Braithwaite J. BMJ Qual Saf. 2014 Jul 21; [Epub ahead of print].

This commentary advocates for organizations to adopt an approach that focuses on top performers and team achievements to motivate improvement. Highlighting how positive deviance has demonstrated an encouraging effect on hand hygiene compliance, the authors suggest that this method could address behaviors that hinder adoption of safety practices.

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