Risk Management & Patient Safety: Focus on the Patient and the Rest Falls Into Place

Authors

Kathryn Rapala, Marquette UniversityFollow
Kathryn Leonhardt, Advocate Aurora Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2009

Publisher

Lionheart Publishing Inc.

Source Publication

Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare

Source ISSN

1553-6637

Abstract

It is difficult, if not impossible, to define and separate risk management and patient safety roles. Both track and mitigate patient care error and improve processes with the goal of improving patient outcomes. At Aurora Health Care, risk management and patient safety are intertwined throughout the system. In the course of clarifying function, we have attempted to delineate risk management from patient safety, only to conclude that it is difficult to identify where one ends and the other begins. The structure and process that we are developing at Aurora Health Care offer advantages as well as challenges, but the organizational commitment to putting the patient at the center of care provides clear guidance and direction.

Comments

Published version. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, September-October 2009. Publisher link. © 2009 Lionheart Publishing, Inc. Used with permission.

Kathryn Gardner Rapala was affiliated with Aurora Health Care at the time of publication.

Recommended Citation

Rapala, Kathryn and Leonhardt, Kathryn, "Risk Management & Patient Safety: Focus on the Patient and the Rest Falls Into Place" (2009). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 828.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/828