Hospitals' uncomfortably high tolerance for errors (Becker Hospital Review, 10 August 2022)

Summary

Learning from mistakes generally is considered the upside to failure. But in healthcare, where staff members regularly face stressors and systemic issues that impede a strong culture of safety, creating that standard can be difficult. 

To understand why medical mistakes and care complications occur repeatedly Becker's spoke with Patricia McGaffigan, vice president of safety programmes for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Ms. McGaffigan outlined three factors that contribute to repeat medical errors, care complications or lost progress on quality improvement initiatives:

1. A "whack-a-mole" approach to safety.
2. Lack of focus on systemwide changes.
3. Unhealthy or unsafe work environments.