Multiple huddles each day support hospital safety

Creating a culture of safety requires careful communication, AONL member Andrea Truex, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer of Florida’s Englewood Community Hospital, told HealthLeaders Media. Truex believes focusing on communication during handoffs can help all hospitals improve patient safety. At Englewood, she instituted safety huddles at the start of every shift, bedside shift reports during which patients can participate and a leadership team safety huddle each morning. “We need to stop and pause and ensure purpose over tasks to ensure that we're keeping people safe.” Truex said. Englewood is one of 41 hospitals to be awarded "Straight A" Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades since 2012. (HealthLeaders Media article, 11/1/21)