A qualitative positive deviance study to explore exceptionally safe care on medical wards for older people.

Baxter R, Taylor N, Kellar I, Lawton R. BMJ Qual Saf. 2019 Feb 13; [Epub ahead of print].

This qualitative study compared four high-performing geriatric inpatient units with four average-performance units in order to understand factors that contribute to high performance. The authors conclude that the safety practices did not differ between the high versus average performers. Instead, optimal teamwork and positive safety culture led the high-performing wards to implement these safety practices in a more effective way.

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