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Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2009 Comparative Database Report

Table C-2. Trending: Item-Level Average Percent Positive Response by Bed Size

Survey Items by Composite Bed Size
6-24 beds 25-49 50-99 beds 100-199 beds 200-299 beds 300-499 beds 500+ beds
21 Hospitals Both Years 42 Hospitals Both Years 37 Hospitals Both Years 32 Hospitals Both Years 22 Hospitals Both Years 26 Hospitals Both Years 24 Hospitals Both Years
1,054 Most Recent Respondents 3,550 Most Recent Respondents 4,360 Most Recent Respondents 8,886 Most Recent Respondents 8,408 Most Recent Respondents 15,678 Most Recent Respondents 27,605 Most Recent Respondents
1,362 Previous Respondents 3,401 Previous Respondents 4,686 Previous Respondents 7,573 Previous Respondents 8,108 Previous Respondents 14,300 Previous Respondents 25,891 Previous Respondents
1. Teamwork Within Units A1—1. People support one another in this unit. Most Recent 88% 88% 83% 84% 83% 84% 84%
Previous 86% 86% 82% 78% 73% 81% 83%
Change 2% 2% 1% 6% 10% 3% 1%
A3—2. When a lot of work needs to be done quickly, we work together as a team to get the work done. Most Recent 91% 90% 84% 84% 85% 84% 82%
Previous 89% 89% 85% 79% 76% 82% 82%
Change 2% 1% -1% 5% 9% 2% 0%
A4—3. In this unit, people treat each other with respect. Most Recent 80% 82% 75% 77% 76% 76% 75%
Previous 80% 80% 76% 72% 68% 74% 75%
Change 0% 2% -1% 5% 8% 2% 0%
A11—4. When one area in this unit gets really busy, others help out. Most Recent 74% 73% 69% 69% 66% 67% 65%
Previous 70% 71% 67% 64% 59% 64% 66%
Change 4% 2% 2% 5% 7% 3% -1%
2. Supervisor/Manager Expectations & Actions Promoting Patient Safety B1—1. My supv/mgr says a good word when he/she sees a job done according to established patient safety procedures. Most Recent 71% 76% 70% 72% 72% 70% 72%
Previous 69% 74% 69% 67% 65% 67% 71%
Change 2% 2% 1% 5% 7% 3% 1%
B2—2. My supv/mgr seriously considers staff suggestions for improving patient safety. Most Recent 77% 81% 75% 77% 75% 73% 74%
Previous 77% 80% 75% 71% 67% 71% 75%
Change 0% 1% 0% 6% 8% 2% -1%
B3R—3. Whenever pressure builds up, my supv/mgr wants us to work faster, even if it means taking shortcuts. Most Recent 80% 80% 75% 75% 71% 71% 68%
Previous 78% 78% 73% 73% 67% 69% 69%
Change 2% 2% 2% 2% 4% 2% -1%
B4R—4. My supv/mgr overlooks patient safety problems that happen over and over. Most Recent 76% 82% 77% 77% 74% 73% 75%
Previous 76% 80% 75% 72% 67% 71% 73%
Change 0% 2% 2% 5% 7% 2% 2%
3. Organizational Learning-Continuous Improvement A6—1. We are actively doing things to improve patient safety. Most Recent 83% 86% 83% 83% 81% 81% 79%
Previous 82% 85% 81% 75% 71% 79% 80%
Change 1% 1% 2% 8% 10% 2% -1%
A9—2. Mistakes have led to positive changes here. Most Recent 67% 68% 63% 65% 61% 62% 60%
Previous 64% 67% 61% 59% 53% 59% 61%
Change 3% 1% 2% 6% 8% 3% -1%
A13—3. After we make changes to improve patient safety, we evaluate their effectiveness. Most Recent 69% 73% 69% 70% 67% 67% 65%
Previous 68% 70% 66% 62% 60% 64% 66%
Change 1% 3% 3% 8% 7% 3% -1%
4. Management Support for Patient Safety F1—1. Hospital mgmt provides a work climate that promotes patient safety. Most Recent 85% 86% 80% 80% 75% 76% 73%
Previous 85% 86% 78% 74% 71% 76% 75%
Change 0% 0% 2% 6% 4% 0% -2%
F8—2. The actions of hospital mgmt show that patient safety is a top priority. Most Recent 78% 78% 71% 73% 69% 70% 67%
Previous 76% 78% 69% 66% 60% 67% 69%
Change 2% 0% 2% 7% 9% 3% -2%
F9R—3. Hospital mgmt seems interested in patient safety only after an adverse event happens. Most Recent 67% 68% 58% 59% 55% 56% 52%
Previous 66% 66% 57% 55% 51% 54% 52%
Change 1% 2% 1% 4% 4% 2% 0%
5. Overall Perceptions of Patient Safety A10R—1. It is just by chance that more serious mistakes don't happen around here. Most Recent 69% 67% 61% 60% 56% 59% 45%
Previous 65% 64% 61% 57% 52% 55% 54%
Change 4% 3% 0% 3% 4% 4% -9%
A15—2. Patient safety is never sacrificed to get more work done. Most Recent 77% 73% 63% 65% 61% 59% 55%
Previous 75% 69% 64% 60% 52% 56% 58%
Change 2% 4% -1% 5% 9% 3% -3%
A17R—3. We have patient safety problems in this unit. Most Recent 74% 70% 63% 62% 57% 58% 44%
Previous 72% 68% 62% 58% 51% 56% 55%
Change 2% 2% 1% 4% 6% 2% -11%
A18—4. Our procedures and systems are good at preventing errors from happening. Most Recent 75% 76% 71% 71% 69% 68% 65%
Previous 70% 73% 67% 64% 60% 66% 66%
Change 5% 3% 4% 7% 9% 2% -1%
6. Feedback & Communication About Error C1—1. We are given feedback about changes put into place based on event reports. Most Recent 52% 53% 52% 54% 53% 54% 54%
Previous 53% 53% 50% 49% 48% 53% 56%
Change -1% 0% 2% 5% 5% 1% -2%
C3—2. We are informed about errors that happen in this unit. Most Recent 72% 67% 65% 65% 61% 61% 60%
Previous 69% 68% 65% 60% 58% 60% 60%
Change 3% -1% 0% 5% 3% 1% 0%
C5—3. In this unit, we discuss ways to prevent errors from happening again. Most Recent 73% 74% 70% 70% 67% 68% 66%
Previous 75% 74% 69% 64% 60% 67% 68%
Change -2% 0% 1% 6% 7% 1% -2%
7. Communication Openness C2—1. Staff will freely speak up if they see something that may negatively affect patient care. Most Recent 78% 78% 75% 75% 74% 74% 72%
Previous 80% 76% 75% 70% 68% 74% 74%
Change -2% 2% 0% 5% 6% 0% -2%
C4—2. Staff feel free to question the decisions or actions of those with more authority. Most Recent 50% 48% 46% 48% 47% 46% 46%
Previous 50% 47% 45% 44% 44% 47% 48%
Change 0% 1% 1% 4% 3% -1% -2%
C6R—3. Staff are afraid to ask questions when something does not seem right. Most Recent 67% 66% 61% 62% 59% 61% 59%
Previous 66% 63% 60% 59% 55% 61% 60%
Change 1% 3% 1% 3% 4% 0% -1%
8. Frequency of Events Reported D1—1. When a mistake is made, but is caught and corrected before affecting the patient, how often is this reported? Most Recent 55% 56% 51% 55% 52% 53% 51%
Previous 55% 54% 51% 50% 47% 51% 51%
Change 0% 2% 0% 5% 5% 2% 0%
D2—2. When a mistake is made, but has no potential to harm the patient, how often is this reported? Most Recent 61% 61% 56% 59% 55% 55% 53%
Previous 61% 59% 55% 54% 50% 52% 52%
Change 0% 2% 1% 5% 5% 3% 1%
D3—3. When a istake is made that could harm the patient, but does not, how often is this reported? Most Recent 77% 78% 73% 73% 70% 71% 68%
Previous 78% 77% 72% 70% 65% 69% 67%
Change -1% 1% 1% 3% 5% 2% 1%
9. Teamwork Across Units F2R—1. Hospital units do not coordinate well with each other. Most Recent 57% 54% 45% 45% 37% 39% 37%
Previous 54% 52% 45% 42% 37% 37% 37%
Change 3% 2% 0% 3% 0% 2% 0%
F4—2. There is good cooperation among hospital units that need to work together. Most Recent 71% 67% 59% 59% 51% 53% 50%
Previous 68% 67% 60% 53% 47% 50% 51%
Change 3% 0% -1% 6% 4% 3% -1%
F6R—3. It is ften unpleasant to work with staff from other hospital units. Most Recent 67% 65% 58% 58% 51% 54% 51%
Previous 65% 63% 57% 53% 49% 52% 53%
Change 2% 2% 1% 5% 2% 2% -2%
F10—4. Hospital units work well together to provide the best care for patients. Most Recent 78% 75% 68% 68% 59% 62% 58%
Previous 76% 75% 68% 62% 56% 59% 60%
Change 2% 0% 0% 6% 3% 3% -2%
10. Staffing A2—1. We have enough staff to handle the workload. Most Recent 64% 63% 53% 51% 47% 50% 44%
Previous 63% 62% 54% 51% 43% 47% 47%
Change 1% 1% -1% 0% 4% 3% -3%
A5R—2. Staff in this unit work longer hours than is best for patient care. Most Recent 61% 55% 51% 51% 48% 50% 45%
Previous 56% 55% 51% 48% 45% 49% 46%
Change 5% 0% 0% 3% 3% 1% -1%
A7R—3. We use more agency/temporary staff than is best for patient care. Most Recent 69% 68% 63% 62% 64% 65% 61%
Previous 69% 64% 65% 59% 55% 60% 60%
Change 0% 4% -2% 3% 9% 5% 1%
A14R—4. We work in "crisis mode" trying to do too much, too quickly. Most Recent 64% 59% 50% 48% 43% 43% 39%
Previous 58% 55% 49% 47% 40% 41% 41%
Change 6% 4% 1% 1% 3% 2% -2%
11. Handoffs & Transitions F3R—1. Things "fall between the cracks" when transferring patients from one unit to another. Most Recent 58% 52% 44% 39% 32% 32% 32%
Previous 55% 50% 45% 38% 31% 32% 32%
Change 3% 2% -1% 1% 1% 0% 0%
F5R—2. Important patient care information is often lost during shift changes. Most Recent 59% 55% 50% 48% 44% 45% 44%
Previous 56% 55% 50% 45% 41% 44% 46%
Change 3% 0% 0% 3% 3% 1% -2%
F7R—3. Problems often occur in the exchange of information across hospital units. Most Recent 57% 51% 45% 42% 36% 36% 34%
Previous 52% 49% 45% 37% 34% 34% 35%
Change 5% 2% 0% 5% 2% 2% -1%
F11R—4. Shift changes are problematic for patients in this hospital. Most Recent 61% 55% 47% 43% 37% 39% 36%
Previous 58% 52% 44% 43% 37% 38% 38%
Change 3% 3% 3% 0% 0% 1% -2%
12. Nonpunitive Response to Error A8R—1. Staff feel like their mistakes are held against them. Most Recent 61% 57% 50% 51% 48% 47% 44%
Previous 58% 55% 49% 49% 45% 45% 44%
Change 3% 2% 1% 2% 3% 2% 0%
A12R—2. When an event is reported, it feels like the person is being written up, not the problem. Most Recent 53% 51% 44% 46% 43% 43% 41%
Previous 48% 48% 42% 43% 41% 41% 40%
Change 5% 3% 2% 3% 2% 2% 1%
A16R—3. Staff worry that mistakes they make are kept in their personnel file. Most Recent 45% 42% 36% 35% 33% 31% 28%
Previous 41% 38% 35% 35% 30% 30% 28%
Change 4% 4% 1% 0% 3% 1% 0%

Note: The item's survey location is shown to the left. An "R" indicates a negatively worded item, where the percent positive response is based on those who responded "Strongly disagree" or "Disagree," or "Never" or "Rarely" (depending on the response category used for the item).

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