Improving Nursing Home Safety through Adoption of a Practical Resilient Health Care Approach

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Nursing homes face persistent safety challenges despite numerous interventions.
• Traditional safety models often view errors as stemming from identifiable and correctable system flaws.
• A shift towards understanding complex systems, like nursing homes, is needed to address inherent uncertainties and trade-offs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a Resilient Health Care perspective for improving nursing home safety.
• To present the LOCK program as a practical framework for operationalizing Resilient Health Care principles.
• To support frontline staff in managing daily complexities for enhanced care quality and safety.

Main Methods:

• The study discusses the theoretical underpinnings of Resilient Health Care in complex systems.
• It introduces the evidence-based LOCK program, detailing its structures and processes.
• The program focuses on empowering frontline staff to manage dynamic care environments.

Main Results:

• The Resilient Health Care perspective acknowledges that uncertainties and trade-offs are inherent in daily operations.
• The LOCK program provides practical tools for staff to adapt to system-level changes and maintain high-quality care.
• Implementation of LOCK aims to improve the navigation of complex interactions affecting care delivery.

Conclusions:

• A Resilient Health Care approach is crucial for addressing the complexities of nursing home safety.
• The LOCK program offers a viable, evidence-based strategy for enhancing safety and quality in nursing homes.
• Supporting frontline staff through structured programs is key to successful adaptation and safe care provision.