Risk Managers Focus on Organization-wide Culture of Patient Safety

CHICAGO, April 23, 2003 - Like no time before, healthcare organizations are under intense pressure from the public and regulatory bodies to show that they are dedicated to delivering good patient care.

As National Healthcare Risk Management Week, June 16-20, draws near, the healthcare spotlight is increasingly on patient safety. Risk managers find themselves working to foster an organization-wide culture of patient safety, in addition to spreading the word about the latest patient safety practices.

“For more than twenty years, risk management techniques have served as the foundation for promoting safe and trusted healthcare. Risk managers are proud to lead the organizational culture of patient safety in healthcare organizations throughout the world,” says Jane J. McCaffrey, DFASHRM, MHSA, risk manager at Oconee Memorial Hospital in Seneca, SC. Ms. McCaffrey is also the 2003 president of the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM).

Each year, ASHRM sponsors National Healthcare Risk Management Week to highlight the contributions risk managers make to both healthcare consumers and providers. In addition to distribution of official logo items, ASHRM presents a timely educational program.

This year, on June 18, the society is bringing together a panel representing risk management, hospital executive leadership and patient safety views for an expanded nationwide audio conference and webcast titled Validating a Culture of Patient Safety in Your Organization.

The program will examine:

• What components and personnel are necessary for an effective patient safety program?
• How does risk management contribute to a collaborative patient safety program?
• What are the challenges to achieving competent teamwork for the delivery of safe healthcare?