[A cultural shift is needed to improve patient safety]

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Risk Management

Context:

• Current patient safety practices often focus on errors and avoidability of suicide incidents.
• There is a need to align patient safety work with evolving knowledge and best practices.
• Existing legislation and regulations may not fully support a modern approach to patient harm assessment.

Purpose:

• To propose a cultural shift in assessing severe patient harm, specifically suicide incidents.
• To advocate for a focus on healthcare's risk management capabilities over time.
• To encourage a transition from error-centric reviews to a proactive patient safety model.

Summary:

• The thesis suggests a paradigm shift in evaluating suicide as severe patient harm.
• This involves moving from a focus on errors to emphasizing healthcare's capacity for risk management and learning.
• The proposed approach prioritizes proactive safety measures, quality outcomes, and a robust safety culture.

Impact:

• Fosters a culture of learning and continuous improvement in healthcare.
• Enhances the ability to manage risks effectively, reducing patient harm.
• Supports legislative and regulatory frameworks that promote proactive patient safety and accountability.