Interdisciplinary Patient Tracers: Routine, Systematic Safety Surveillance

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety Surveillance

Background:

• Traditional patient tracer and leadership WalkRounds programs for identifying quality and safety issues have shown inconsistencies in application, results, and sustainability.
• A need exists for a more consistent and efficient method to survey healthcare facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a Peer-to-Peer Interdisciplinary Patient Tracer program.
• To assess compliance with National Patient Safety Goals.
• To proactively identify risks in inpatient, ambulatory, and procedural settings.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a Peer-to-Peer Interdisciplinary Patient Tracer program.
• Assessment of compliance with National Patient Safety Goals.
• Identification of inpatient, ambulatory, and procedural risks.
• Program operational for over 5 years with annual expansion.

Main Results:

• 96% of frontline leadership reported satisfaction with the program.
• 100% of leaders would recommend the program.
• A mean absolute change in performance scores of 15% from 2014 to 2018.
• All survey findings initiated improvement projects.

Conclusions:

• The Peer-to-Peer Interdisciplinary Patient Tracer program offers a consistent and efficient approach to surveying healthcare facilities.
• The program strengthens internal peer-to-peer surveillance, engages leadership, and creates accountability for improvement.
• This integrated program advances institutional improvement in healthcare quality and safety.