Hospitals in pursuit of excellence

Chasing Zero Harms

Recognizing the need to build a just culture, the leadership team at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod undertook a multidisciplinary, multi-pronged approach for improvement. First, in policy, using incident and quality data for improvement purposes, not performance assessment, and then ensuring that staff were educated on this change, Spaulding set the foundation for culture change. The hospital joined the MHA Hospital Engagement Network and set zero harms, across the board, as its goal. Through targeted, multidisciplinary committees that included front level aides, staff education, frequent posting of outcomes data, and celebration of successes, Spaulding created momentum and engagement. Patient satisfaction efforts targeted areas not addressed through patient safety metrics with tremendous results. The hospital’s success in one area supported success in others, ultimately leading to an improved organizational culture.