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SAFETY
structively with the OR team, surgeons, anesthesia providers and staff
outside the surgical department (such as
maintenance and housekeeping). She must be
tenacious in meeting challenges head on,
demonstrate superior clinical skills in order to
set an example for the rest of the staff; have the desire and ability to
research solutions and resolve issues she uncovers; and have the
organizational and leadership skills to effectively guide staff to meaningful change. She must have excellent written and oral communication skills to inspire facility leadership, staff and surgeons to participate in safety improvement projects and update them as the projects
progress.
3
Define the role
Give your safety champion dedicated time during her day to
observe staff in action and compare their current practices with your
written policies and standards of care. When patient safety issues
arise, the champion should bring the concerns to your attention and
develop a plan for improvement. Truly effective plans for change
demand researching current best practices, brainstorming potential
solutions with surgical leaders and collecting feedback from the entire
surgical team about the efficacy of proposed solutions.
4
Identify issues
M A R C H 2013 | O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
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