Decreasing Surgical Site Infections by Developing a High Reliability Culture

Today's fast-paced and complex perioperative setting requires a collaborative and mindful approach to implementing evidence-based practices and preventing patient harm. Recent changes in the health care landscape coupled with the potential harm caused by surgical site infections require a shift in culture in which all members of the perioperative team have zero tolerance for preventable harm. This article discusses high-reliability organizations and examples of ways in which perioperative teams can apply the principles of high reliability to the prevention of surgical site infections. Characteristics of high-reliability organizations include mindfulness, collaboration, standardization, and use of a structured model to implement evidence into practice. By understanding and applying these concepts and others described in this article, members of a multidisciplinary team should be more prepared to ensure that all staff members are following evidence-based practices during every patient encounter.