Tip 93: Making the most of patient-safety culture survey results

Many healthcare professionals are familiar with patient-safety culture surveys, and may even have recently participated in one. What to do with the information gathered through such surveys might be less clear. One option is to consider a Comprehensive Unit-Based Safety Program (CUSP).

The survey data can help determine the unit or units that may serve as the starting point.  Then, CUSP allows staff to focus their safety efforts on unit specific problems.  The staff (or committee) may evaluate unit specific issues, and then decide which issues to elevate to actual projects.  Implementing CUSP can also assist facilities in meeting The Joint Commission leadership standard.

Free CUSP resources can be downloaded from the Patient Safety Group Web site.