undivided attention and say, 'I give you this promise: I'll back each one
of you up on any safety concern, even if that concern turns out to be
wrong.'"
Show your support
Based on the buzz surrounding St. Vincent's patient-safety award, staff
seem to be following Dr. Rothfield's lead. The first winner of the award,
which includes a financial incentive and a plaque on the wall in the cafe-
teria, was a CRNA whose courage in "having a difficult conversation"
helped to prevent a wrong-site surgery.
Of course, unwanted outcomes can happen even in the most safety-
conscious culture. And when they do, it's essential to communicate
with patients — staff, too, because an adverse event in which they
A P R I L 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 3 7
Viscot Communication Boards
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61% of sentinel events are caused by communication failures*
*The Joint Commission
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