Organizational/Leadership Accountability

In the 2001 IOM’s Crossing the Quality Chasm, six aims for improvement in the 21^st Century Health Care System were identified:  safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency and equity.    While most of the time, these six aims are complementary and synergistic, the disease of indifference adversely affects patient outcomes, morale, and the ability of nurses and other professionals to work together as a team.   The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has identified the effects of errors on patient safety and outcomes.   Many patient errors and loss of billions of dollars are attributed to a lack of accountability and indifference on the part of healthcare workers.   Last year it was estimated that $30 billion dollars was spent on hospital acquired infections that could have been eliminated through proper hand washing and other standards of care that are expected of healthcare personnel.  The presenter will discuss patient safety and examples of how nurses have developed programs to improve patient, staff and environmental safety.