Emerson Health discusses how it has improved quality, safety

In an American Hospital Association podcast, Christi Barney, RN, vice president of quality and patient safety at Emerson Health in Concord, Mass., describes how the system built a culture of safety. Emerson Health told employees that its efforts to become a high-reliability organization underpinned all its work, rather than being one of many tasks for workers to do. Implementing quality and safety trainings for board members, organization leaders and front-line staff resulted in buy-in and measurable success across the health system. Emerson Health also strived to build psychological safety for its staff by emphasizing how to improve systems instead of blaming individuals for mistakes. Through collaborative case review and targeting interventions, Emerson eliminated catheter-associated urinary tract infections and central-line bloodstream infections.