Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 1, 2026
Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Newborn screening: A complex system that requires a culture of safety
1March of Dimes Foundation, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605, USA.
Insights
Improving newborn screening (NBS) quality requires a culture of safety to prevent errors. This approach, using high reliability organization (HRO) principles, can reduce preventable harm in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Pediatric Health Systems
- Medical Error Prevention
Background:
- Newborn screening (NBS) impacts all 4 million US infants annually.
- Current NBS systems present opportunities for quality enhancement.
- Preventable morbidity and mortality can occur due to NBS errors.
Discussion:
- Developing a robust culture of safety is crucial for NBS.
- The high reliability organization (HRO) paradigm offers a framework for reducing system failures.
- Normal accident theory (NAT) provides insights into managing complex systems prone to errors.
Key Insights:
- A culture of safety is essential for high-quality NBS.
- HRO principles can enhance the reliability of NBS processes.
- Understanding NAT helps in anticipating and mitigating NBS system failures.
Outlook:
- Implementing HRO and NAT concepts can significantly improve NBS safety.
- A proactive safety culture is vital for preventing missed diagnoses and adverse outcomes.
- Continuous examination of NBS practices is necessary for optimal infant health.
Abstract:
As health care providers and organizations, we have a responsibility to examine our practices and systems for opportunities to improve quality and health outcomes. Today a critical opportunity exists in the newborn screening (NBS) system, which touches every one of the approximately 4 million babies born annually in the United States. This opportunity involves improving the quality of NBS by developing a culture of safety to prevent errors that in NBS represent missed babies and preventable morbidity and mortality. This commentary will explore the "culture of safety" for NBS, including the high reliability organization (HRO) paradigm and normal accident theory (NAT), which have been effective in reducing systems failures in other complex environments.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Nursing Clinical Information System
A Nursing Clinical Information System (NCIS) is a specialized type of healthcare information system tailored to meet the unique needs of nursing practice. It incorporates the principles of nursing informatics to streamline information management and improve the quality of care delivery.
Critical attributes of NCIS include:
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:18Guidelines and Strategies for Safe Computer Charting
Maintain Confidentiality and Security:
01:15Nursing Implementation
The five steps to implementing effective nursing care include reassessing the patient, reviewing and revising the existing nursing care plan, organizing the resources and care delivery, anticipating and preventing complications, and implementing nursing interventions.
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:30Development of Human Microbiota