title: Our journey to zero: reducing serious safety events by over 70% through high-reliability techniques and workforce engagement.
abstract: The techniques and best practices used to achieve a successful safety culture transformation and drive down the incidence of serious safety events are described. The Safety Transformation Initiative at Children's National resulted in national and local recognition, a financial savings of an imputed $35 million, and a greater than 70% decrease in the serious safety event rate over a 3-year period (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2011). The results were achieved during a time of significant financial constraints and with limited resources. A blueprint detailing specifics of the implementation is presented to assist others in achieving similar results. Our safety transformation was initiated in our fiscal year 2009 as part of a 3-year corporate goal. The work is continuing and we aspire to virtually eliminate serious safety events by 2016.
authors.forename: Mary Anne
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hilliard
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sczudlo
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scafidi
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cady
authors.forename: Alissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villard
authors.forename: Rahul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058996:Quality Improvement; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States