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Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2009 Comparative Database Report

Table D-6. Trending: Item-Level Average Percent Positive Response by Staff Position

Patient Safety Culture Composites Staff Position
Admin/Mgmt Attending/ Physician/
Resident/PA or NP		 Dietician Pat Care Asst/ Aide/ Care Partner Pharmacist RN/LVN/LPN Technician (EKG, Lab, Radiology) Therapist (Respiratory, Phys, Occup, Speech) Unit Asst/Clerk/Secretary
187 Hospitals Both Years 120 Hospitals Both Years 80 Hospitals Both Years 158 Hospitals Both Years 116 Hospitals Both Years 201 Hospitals Both Years 165 Hospitals Both Years 162 Hospitals Both Years 179 Hospitals Both Years
4,881 Most Recent Respondents 2,869 Most Recent Respondents 365 Most Recent Respondents 3,755 Most Recent Respondents 985 Most Recent Respondents 22,584 Most Recent Respondents 5,948 Most Recent Respondents 2,831 Most Recent Respondents 3,700 Most Recent Respondents
4,608 Previous Respondents 2,492 Previous Respondents 371 Previous Respondents 3,512 Previous Respondents 909 Previous Respondents 20,928 Previous Respondents 5,322 Previous Respondents 2,675 Previous Respondents 3,741 Previous Respondents
1. Teamwork Within Units A1—1. People support one another in this unit. Most Recent 94% 89% 88% 77% 87% 86% 82% 88% 83%
Previous 89% 87% 85% 74% 80% 83% 77% 85% 81%
Change 5% 2% 3% 3% 7% 3% 5% 3% 2%
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 94% 86% 88% 78% 84% 87% 85% 85% 84%
Previous 90% 86% 85% 77% 80% 85% 82% 85% 82%
Change 4% 0% 3% 1% 4% 2% 3% 0% 2%
A4—3. In this unit, people treat each other with respect. Most Recent 89% 86% 86% 72% 81% 77% 74% 82% 73%
Previous 83% 85% 81% 66% 71% 76% 71% 81% 74%
Change 6% 1% 5% 6% 10% 1% 3% 1% -1%
A11—4. When one area in this unit gets really busy, others help out. Most Recent 79% 69% 74% 64% 67% 67% 67% 74% 69%
Previous 73% 67% 72% 60% 61% 66% 64% 72% 68%
Change 6% 2% 2% 4% 6% 1% 3% 2% 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 84% 71% 81% 72% 70% 69% 70% 76% 74%
Previous 78% 60% 78% 68% 65% 68% 66% 70% 72%
Change 6% 11% 3% 4% 5% 1% 4% 6% 2%
B2—2. My supv/mgr seriously considers staff suggestions for improving patient safety. Most Recent 89% 76% 85% 77% 76% 74% 76% 82% 76%
Previous 86% 70% 77% 70% 75% 73% 73% 77% 79%
Change 3% 6% 8% 7% 1% 1% 3% 5% -3%
B3R—3. Whenever pressure builds up, my supv/mgr wants us to work faster, even if it means taking shortcuts. Most Recent 85% 67% 76% 74% 78% 72% 78% 77% 78%
Previous 81% 66% 68% 71% 75% 72% 74% 74% 79%
Change 4% 1% 8% 3% 3% 0% 4% 3% -1%
B4R—4. My supv/mgr overlooks patient safety problems that happen over and over. Most Recent 87% 74% 85% 76% 80% 75% 79% 77% 78%
Previous 81% 71% 74% 71% 73% 73% 73% 75% 79%
Change 6% 3% 11% 5% 7% 2% 6% 2% -1%
3. Organizational Learning- Continuous Improvement A6—1. We are actively doing things to improve patient safety. Most Recent 90% 81% 84% 86% 83% 83% 81% 83% 83%
Previous 85% 79% 81% 80% 83% 81% 77% 80% 80%
Change 5% 2% 3% 6% 0% 2% 4% 3% 3%
A9—2.Mistakes have led to positive changes here. Most Recent 83% 68% 65% 60% 72% 61% 65% 61% 62%
Previous 78% 62% 66% 56% 68% 60% 59% 58% 59%
Change 5% 6% -1% 4% 4% 1% 6% 3% 3%
A13—3.After we make changes to improve patient safety, we evaluate their effectiveness. Most Recent 79% 65% 68% 71% 61% 70% 66% 68% 70%
Previous 75% 59% 71% 68% 57% 65% 62% 68% 69%
Change 4% 6% -3% 3% 4% 5% 4% 0% 1%
4. Management Support for Patient Safety F1—1. Hospital mgmt provides a work climate that promotes patient safety. Most Recent 90% 75% 84% 82% 73% 73% 83% 81% 85%
Previous 88% 76% 86% 78% 68% 73% 79% 79% 83%
Change 2% -1% -2% 4% 5% 0% 4% 2% 2%
F8—2. The actions of hospital mgmt show that patient safety is a top priority. Most Recent 85% 71% 81% 78% 68% 66% 73% 73% 79%
Previous 80% 63% 76% 73% 67% 63% 71% 68% 75%
Change 5% 8% 5% 5% 1% 3% 2% 5% 4%
F9R—3. Hospital mgmt seems interested in patient safety only after an adverse event happens. Most Recent 74% 60% 60% 60% 60% 55% 59% 60% 63%
Previous 72% 56% 59% 56% 58% 54% 58% 54% 62%
Change 2% 4% 1% 4% 2% 1% 1% 6% 1%
5. Overall Perceptions of Patient Safety A10R—1. It is just by chance that more serious mistakes don't happen around here. Most Recent 72% 58% 64% 55% 59% 59% 63% 66% 55%
Previous 70% 62% 67% 52% 55% 58% 61% 65% 58%
Change 2% -4% -3% 3% 4% 1% 2% 1% -3%
A15—2. Patient safety is never sacrificed to get more work done. Most Recent 73% 63% 63% 64% 55% 57% 72% 67% 72%
Previous 69% 59% 63% 62% 53% 54% 68% 68% 70%
Change 4% 4% 0% 2% 2% 3% 4% -1% 2%
A17R—3. We have patient safety problems in this unit. Most Recent 68% 59% 66% 59% 55% 57% 69% 65% 64%
Previous 67% 55% 60% 55% 55% 55% 69% 65% 67%
Change 1% 4% 6% 4% 0% 2% 0% 0% -3%
A18—4. Our procedures and systems are good at preventing errors from happening. Most Recent 79% 66% 78% 69% 71% 67% 76% 74% 74%
Previous 75% 62% 73% 66% 67% 63% 73% 70% 71%
Change 4% 4% 5% 3% 4% 4% 3% 4% 3%
6. Feedback and Communication About Error C1—1. We are given feedback about changes put into place based on event reports. Most Recent 65% 52% 64% 55% 50% 50% 51% 59% 53%
Previous 63% 49% 60% 53% 49% 49% 48% 54% 58%
Change 2% 3% 4% 2% 1% 1% 3% 5% -5%
C3—2. We are informed about errors that happen in this unit. Most Recent 78% 59% 69% 65% 67% 57% 68% 65% 69%
Previous 74% 57% 65% 64% 60% 57% 66% 62% 69%
Change 4% 2% 4% 1% 7% 0% 2% 3% 0%
C5—3. In this unit, we discuss ways to prevent errors from happening again. Most Recent 85% 69% 80% 69% 71% 66% 69% 73% 73%
Previous 81% 64% 74% 65% 66% 65% 67% 72% 72%
Change 4% 5% 6% 4% 5% 1% 2% 1% 1%
7. Communication Openness C2—1. Staff will freely speak up if they see something that may negatively affect patient care. Most Recent 84% 72% 75% 71% 78% 75% 76% 80% 75%
Previous 81% 72% 77% 73% 76% 74% 73% 80% 74%
Change 3% 0% -2% -2% 2% 1% 3% 0% 1%
C4—2. Staff feel free to question the decisions or actions of those with more authority. Most Recent 69% 56% 56% 40% 60% 44% 45% 52% 43%
Previous 65% 53% 56% 39% 57% 45% 42% 50% 47%
Change 4% 3% 0% 1% 3% -1% 3% 2% -4%
C6R—3. Staff are afraid to ask questions when something does not seem right. Most Recent 75% 64% 62% 56% 71% 61% 63% 67% 61%
Previous 70% 61% 58% 55% 69% 61% 61% 65% 61%
Change 5% 3% 4% 1% 2% 0% 2% 2% 0%
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 59% 48% 57% 63% 37% 49% 52% 48% 64%
Previous 55% 46% 47% 58% 32% 46% 51% 48% 60%
Change 4% 2% 10% 5% 5% 3% 1% 0% 4%
D2—2. When a mistake is made, but has no potential to harm the patient, how often is this reported? Most Recent 64% 49% 52% 60% 50% 60% 54% 47% 62%
Previous 59% 50% 46% 56% 41% 57% 54% 48% 58%
Change 5% -1% 6% 4% 9% 3% 0% -1% 4%
D3—3. When a mistake is made that could harm the patient, but does not, how often is this reported? Most Recent 79% 70% 69% 73% 69% 76% 74% 66% 75%
Previous 75% 65% 64% 69% 67% 75% 71% 68% 72%
Change 4% 5% 5% 4% 2% 1% 3% -2% 3%
9. Teamwork Across Units F2R—1. Hospital units do not coordinate well with each other. Most Recent 53% 46% 49% 44% 42% 43% 42% 50% 47%
Previous 50% 42% 51% 47% 39% 42% 42% 47% 45%
Change 3% 4% -2% -3% 3% 1% 0% 3% 2%
F4—2. There is good cooperation among hospital units that need to work together. Most Recent 66% 57% 61% 60% 53% 56% 56% 64% 61%
Previous 61% 55% 64% 60% 53% 54% 56% 58% 60%
Change 5% 2% -3% 0% 0% 2% 0% 6% 1%
F6R—3. It is often unpleasant to work with staff from other hospital units. Most Recent 63% 61% 61% 57% 57% 59% 53% 65% 56%
Previous 59% 59% 65% 58% 55% 57% 53% 59% 56%
Change 4% 2% -4% -1% 2% 2% 0% 6% 0%
F10—4. Hospital units work well together to provide the best care for patients. Most Recent 75% 65% 70% 71% 63% 64% 66% 69% 72%
Previous 72% 65% 72% 69% 57% 62% 64% 64% 70%
Change 3% 0% -2% 2% 6% 2% 2% 5% 2%
10. Staffing A2—1. We have enough staff to handle the workload. Most Recent 68% 54% 60% 43% 48% 53% 54% 55% 49%
Previous 67% 53% 63% 42% 44% 52% 53% 52% 48%
Change 1% 1% -3% 1% 4% 1% 1% 3% 1%
A5R—2. Staff in this unit work longer hours than is best for patient care. Most Recent 60% 50% 53% 45% 58% 54% 54% 57% 48%
Previous 54% 49% 53% 44% 57% 54% 53% 55% 51%
Change 6% 1% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1% 2% -3%
A7R—3. We use more agency/temporary staff than is best for patient care. Most Recent 69% 61% 55% 61% 69% 69% 68% 71% 60%
Previous 65% 58% 59% 58% 57% 67% 64% 69% 59%
Change 4% 3% -4% 3% 12% 2% 4% 2% 1%
A14R—4. We work in "crisis mode" trying to do too much, too quickly. Most Recent 59% 51% 55% 49% 47% 47% 51% 56% 53%
Previous 54% 53% 54% 44% 43% 47% 47% 54% 51%
Change 5% -2% 1% 5% 4% 0% 4% 2% 2%
11. Handoffs & Transitions F3R—1. Things "fall between the cracks" when transferring patients from one unit to another. Most Recent 43% 43% 34% 47% 25% 45% 34% 36% 47%
Previous 41% 38% 37% 48% 23% 42% 35% 38% 45%
Change 2% 5% -3% -1% 2% 3% -1% -2% 2%
F5R—2. Important patient care information is often lost during shift changes. Most Recent 50% 47% 44% 55% 30% 55% 44% 44% 53%
Previous 47% 45% 47% 55% 33% 53% 44% 46% 50%
Change 3% 2% -3% 0% -3% 2% 0% -2% 3%
F7R—3. Problems often occur in the exchange of information across hospital units. Most Recent 46% 43% 41% 43% 27% 46% 38% 43% 46%
Previous 45% 38% 45% 44% 26% 44% 37% 41% 42%
Change 1% 5% -4% -1% 1% 2% 1% 2% 4%
F11R—4. Shift changes are problematic for patients in this hospital. Most Recent 49% 41% 38% 51% 29% 51% 40% 40% 48%
Previous 49% 37% 43% 48% 30% 49% 41% 38% 47%
Change 0% 4% -5% 3% -1% 2% -1% 2% 1%
12.Nonpunitive Response to Error A8R—1. Staff feel like their mistakes are held against them. Most Recent 68% 47% 53% 44% 63% 51% 50% 59% 45%
Previous 65% 49% 50% 41% 58% 49% 46% 58% 50%
Change 3% -2% 3% 3% 5% 2% 4% 1% -5%
A12R—2. When an event is reported, it feels like the person is being written up, not the problem. Most Recent 69% 43% 50% 38% 64% 47% 43% 53% 37%
Previous 65% 43% 43% 34% 58% 44% 41% 47% 40%
Change 4% 0% 7% 4% 6% 3% 2% 6% -3%
A16R—3. Staff worry that mistakes they make are kept in their personnel file. Most Recent 52% 30% 37% 28% 53% 35% 35% 44% 33%
Previous 47% 31% 38% 26% 47% 33% 33% 41% 32%
Change 5% -1% -1% 2% 6% 2% 2% 3% 1%

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