Achieving Safe Health Care

Winner of a 2016 Shingo Research and Professional Publication Award!A recent article published in the Journal of Patient Safety estimated that more than 400,000 lives are lost each year due to preventable patient events in American hospitals. Preventable patient safety events are the third leading cause of death in the United States. While most hea

Jan Compton, MS-HCAD, BSN, RN, CPHQ, is vice president of patient safety and chief patient safety officer for Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH), the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas, which includes 46 hospitals, more than 800 patient care sites, 5800 affiliated physicians, more than 35,000 employees, and the Scott & White Health Plan. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the health care system's efforts to develop and implement evidence-based patient safety practices intended to help the organization pursue its vision of "no preventable deaths, no preventable injuries, and no preventable risk." Jan's passion for patient safety is clearly demonstrated as she leads by influence the BSWH programs to reduce inpatient mortality, promotes an organizational culture conducive to the development of patient safety innovations, and guides employees in the adoption of patient safety values. Her plan is to operationalize patient safety goals and processes across all BSWH facilities.

Building the Foundation. Creating a Culture. Integrating the Culture. Building the Process. Leveraging Technology. References. Glossary. Index.