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Table 1 AHRQ Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture Composites and Definitions

From: Exploring relationships between hospital patient safety culture and Consumer Reports safety scores

Patient safety culture composite

Definition: The extent to which

Number of survey items

1. Communication openness

Staff will freely speak up if they see something that may negatively affect patient care, and feel free to question those with more authority

3

2. Feedback & communication about error

Staff are informed about errors that happen, given feedback about changes put into place based on event reports, and discuss ways to prevent errors

3

3. Frequency of events reported

Mistakes of the following types are reported: 1) mistakes caught and corrected before affecting the patient, 2) mistakes with no potential to harm the patient, and 3) mistakes that could harm the patient, but do not

3

4. Handoffs & transitions

Important patient care information is transferred across hospital units and during shift changes

4

5. Management support for patient safety

Hospital management provides a work climate that promotes patient safety and shows that patient safety is a top priority

3

6. Nonpunitive response to error

Staff feel that their mistakes are not held against them, and mistakes are not kept in their personnel file

3

7. Organizational learning—Continuous improvement

Mistakes have led to positive changes and changes are evaluated for their effectiveness

3

8. Overall perceptions of patient safety

Procedures and systems are good at preventing errors and there is a lack of patient safety problems

4

9. Staffing

There are enough staff to handle the workload and work hours are appropriate to provide the best care for patients

4

10. Supervisor/manager expectations and actions promoting safety

Supervisors/managers consider staff suggestions for improving patient safety, praise staff for following patient safety procedures, and do not overlook patient safety problems

4

11. Teamwork across units

Hospital units cooperate and coordinate with one another to provide the best care for patients

4

12. Teamwork within units

Staff support one another, treat each other with respect, and work together as a team

4