#United States #Plymouth Meeting #ECRI #Total Systems Safety #Human Factors Engineering

ECRI's New Solutions for Safer Healthcare

ECRI, a globally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare safety, has recently announced groundbreaking solutions in Total Systems Safety (TSS) and Human Factors Engineering (HFE). These initiatives aim to help healthcare organizations significantly reduce errors and harm while promoting a culture of safety and well-being among staff.

The introduction of TSS and HFE solutions marks a pivotal transition from traditional, reactive safety interventions often used in healthcare settings to a more integrated and proactive approach. This innovative approach emphasizes the design and implementation of holistic safety systems tailored to the specific needs of healthcare organizations.

The launch of these solutions will be highlighted during the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Forum on December 10, where ECRI will present a session titled "Total Systems Safety: Redesigning the System to Prevent Harm." This presentation will showcase ECRI's expertise in collaborating with organizations to co-design safety systems that are not only effective but also sustainable.

ECRI springs from a rich history of offering safety advisory services and data-driven insights through the largest adverse event database in the healthcare domain. With this new launch, ECRI aims to extend its capabilities by leveraging a team of experts in safety science and expanding its resources. These resources are crafted for the assessment, benchmarking, design, implementation, and measurement of safety systems that prioritize long-term sustainability.

Key principles underpinning ECRI's TSS framework include leadership and governance, active engagement of patients and families, continuous learning systems, and fostering a 'just culture' within the workforce. The recent acquisition of The Just Culture Company will augment ECRI's capacity to create cultural shifts necessary for implementing TSS, where errors are viewed as vital learning opportunities rather than subjects for punitive action.

Currently, several major health systems across the United States are embarking on TSS assessments and implementations with ECRI's guidance. Notably, St. Joseph's Health has recently been awarded the 2024 Safety Excellence Award for its effective utilization of ECRI's TSS assessment processes, setting a benchmark for compliance with the latest CMS patient safety guidelines while enhancing the work culture for their staff.

Dr. Dheerendra Kommala, Chief Medical Officer at ECRI, remarks, "Despite our continuous efforts, the fragmented nature of the healthcare system poses serious risks, highlighted by unacceptably high rates of preventable harm. Traditional safety approaches often overlook the underlying causes of these issues. By advocating for a systems-based methodology, we can tackle these core problems head-on. This represents a significant shift towards a more integrated strategy—one that incorporates human factors and equity commitments into the healthcare landscape to improve outcomes for both patients and healthcare workers."

Human Factors Engineering (HFE), a discipline that synergizes psychology with engineering principles, is crucial to ECRI's systems strategy. It ensures that clinical workflows, care settings, and processes align with best practices for safety and efficiency. As Dr. Patrice D. Tremoulet, HFE Director at ECRI, states, "With a collective experience of over 125 years, our team identifies hidden obstacles that impede healthcare quality and safety, leading to improved workflows and enhanced patient outcomes, while also reducing the risk of provider burnout."

In a landscape where challenges such as staffing shortages and regulatory demands are omnipresent, ECRI's TSS framework provides organizations with robust tools to bolster resilience against these hurdles. Shannon Davila, Executive Director of TSS, emphasizes that these solutions are designed to give healthcare leaders a proactive means of addressing ongoing and future challenges, ultimately enhancing their preparedness for the evolving demands of the sector.

Moreover, the recent CMS requirements for hospitals to adopt comprehensive safety practices align closely with ECRI's TSS framework, underscoring the national regulatory shift towards systems-based safety approaches. ECRI's influential role in the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety and its contributions to the National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety further demonstrate its commitment to creating safer healthcare environments.

In conclusion, ECRI's newly launched TSS and HFE solutions represent a transformative leap in healthcare safety, providing organizations with effective strategies to not only prevent harm but also to foster a culture of continuous improvement and safety excellence.