Listen to the December 20, 2006 informational call about this program with faculty members Frank Federico, RPh, Sue Leavitt Gullo, MS, RN, and Carol Haraden, PhD.

Patient safety requires commitment from all levels of an organization. While executives foster a safety culture and establish clear goals and metrics for the organization, the day-to-day execution is the responsibility of frontline managers who direct resources at the “sharp end” of care.

Getting frontline managers to fully commit to implementing the organization’s safety plan is one of the most important elements in building a culture of safety. These individuals help contribute to an atmosphere of mutual trust in which all staff members can talk freely about safety problems and seek solutions without fear of blame or punishment. In order to ensure that quality and safety are a top priority, these managers need the tools and understanding of patient safety to lead the work at their institutions.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement can help. IHI has developed Implementing Safety Strategies as a Frontline Manager, a two-day seminar designed to build capacity and provide tools for frontline managers to participate in improving quality and safety efforts on their individual units and throughout the organization.