What are the best practices for promoting patient safety in your practice?

3 Engage patients

Engaging patients means involving them in their own care and decision-making, respecting their preferences and values, and providing them with education and support. Engaging patients can improve patient safety by increasing their satisfaction, adherence, and self-management, as well as reducing errors and misunderstandings. You can engage patients by using teach-back methods, shared decision aids, patient portals, feedback surveys, and patient safety rounds.

4 Collaborate with others

Collaboration is the process of working with other health care professionals, patients, families, and community partners to achieve common goals and improve patient outcomes. Collaboration can promote patient safety by enhancing teamwork, coordination, and continuity of care, as well as reducing conflicts and gaps in care. You can collaborate with others by establishing clear roles and responsibilities, sharing information and resources, respecting diversity and expertise, and resolving conflicts constructively.

6 Practice self-care

Self-care is the practice of taking care of your own physical, mental, and emotional well-being, especially in stressful and demanding situations. Self-care can promote patient safety by reducing your risk of burnout, fatigue, compassion fatigue, and impaired performance, as well as increasing your resilience, motivation, and satisfaction. You can practice self-care by setting boundaries and limits, managing your time and workload, seeking support and feedback, engaging in healthy habits and hobbies, and seeking professional help if needed.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?