Med Center Health Safety Snapshot – February

Your Quick Look into Safety at Med Center Health

At Med Center Health, safety and high reliability are more than just goals. They are our promise to every person who comes through our doors. This Safety Snapshot highlights a foundational Joint Commission National Performance Goal that touches every role, every department, and every patient encounter.

Culture of Safety

“Fostering a shared commitment to safety at every level—where proactive risk prevention, open communication, and accountability are embedded in daily practices and decision-making—is essential for healthcare organizations to reduce medical errors, prevent staff burnout, and promote greater job satisfaction.” –The Joint Commission

What This Means for Daily Practice

  • Communicate safety concerns
    • Report hazards, near misses, and safety events to help prevent harm and strengthen our safety culture
    • These can be reported via our Incident Reporting application located in the MCH Portal
  • Share ideas for improvement
    • Your suggestions help identify opportunities to improve processes, workflows, and patient care
    • Submit a “Bright Idea”, talk to your manager or reach out to our Director of Patient Safety
  • Practice safe, high-quality care
    • Follow established safety practices, policies, and procedures
    • Pause, verify, and ask questions when needed
  • Support a Just Culture
    • Safety reporting and conversations are non-punitive. This means our focus is on learning and improving rather than placing blame
  • Look out for one another
    • Respectful reminders, teamwork, and peer support help keep everyone safe
    • An example of this is our Tap the Badge for Hand Hygiene practice

Why It Matters

A strong culture of safety exists when team members feel empowered to speak up and communicate safety concerns, share ideas for improvement, and practice safe, high-quality care. At Med Center Health, we encourage these practices every day in every role because they reduce errors, improve outcomes, and build trust among patients, families, and team members, creating safer care environments for all.

Together, we make safety a reality. Thank you for being an essential part of our culture of safety!

Reliably yours,

Denise Kaetzel, MHA, MSN, RN, CENP – Executive Director of Quality and Patient Experience

Kaitlin Banasiewicz, PhD, MSN, RN – Director of Patient Safety and Clinical Research

«
»