Improving the quality of handover

"This project demonstrates that replacing an ad-hoc system of handover with a multi-disciplinary, team based approach to handover improves handover quality. In addition it provides a useful guide to introducing a new handover meeting to a department and contains useful lessons on how to combat cultural barriers to change within a department."

Improving the quality of handover by addressing handover culture and introducing a new, multi-disciplinary, team-based handover meeting
H Walton, W Munro
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u206069.w2989

Read more here.

Healthcare technologies, quality improvement programs and hospital organizational culture in Canadian hospitals

"The usage of quality improvement programs is related to the ability to implement technology and the culture within a hospital."

Healthcare technologies, quality improvement programs and hospital organizational culture in Canadian hospitals
RK Tyagi, L Cook, J Olson, J Belohlav
BMC Health Services Research, 2013, 13:413

Read more here.

Measuring a caring culture in hospitals

"Characteristics of the instruments included in this review could provide useful input for the design of a reliable and valid instrument for measuring a caring culture in hospitals."

Measuring a caring culture in hospitals: a systematic review of instruments
G Hesselink, E Kuis, M Pijnenburg, H Wollersheim
BMJ Open, 2013, 3:e003416

Read more here.

Speech: The silent scandal of patient safety

This speech, delivered by The Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP on 21st June 2013, describes the issues with patient safety, and what the NHS needs to do to improve:

"Through better measurement and reporting of the extent of harm free care in our hospitals. But most of all, through by creating a new culture which engages and listens better to frontline staff so they help us to design systems that prioritise safety whatever the pressures."

Read the full speech here.

Improving value at hospitals through process management

"Using five case studies, the report demonstrates how process management techniques, which have been used successfully in other sectors, can improve health care outcomes and reduce costs in Canada."

Improving value at hospitals through process management
V Thomson, J Thomson
The Conference Board of Canada
March 2013

Read more here (free registration required).

Safety culture: What is it and how do we monitor and measure it?

"Safety culture tools provide an opportunity for staff to reflect on the things that are working well, that should be renewed or strengthened, as well as identifying areas for action."

Safety culture: What is it and how do we monitor and measure it?
The Health Foundation
March 2013

Read more here.

Safeguarding vulnerable people in the reformed NHS

"Organisations need to promote a culture where staff feel able to raise concerns and whistleblow without fear and that there is an understanding of the need for staff support to achieve effective outcomes for vulnerable people."

Safeguarding vulnerable people in the reformed NHS: accountability and assurance framework
NHS Commissioning Board
March 2013

Read more here.

Quality in the new health system

"The NHS needs to embrace a culture of open and honest cooperation where individuals and organisations are transparent about the quality of care being provided to patients, and the whole system works collaboratively to share information, address concerns and raise standards."

Quality in the new health system: maintaining and improving quality from April 2013
Department of Health
January 2013

How can leaders influence a safety culture?

"The systematic delivery of safe and reliable care requires a safety culture, continuous learning, and improvement."

How can leaders influence a safety culture?
M Leonard, A Frankel
The Health Foundation
May 2012

Read more here.

Does improving safety culture affect outcomes?

"This research scan examines whether improving safety culture has an impact on patient and staff outcomes."

Research scan: Does improving safety culture affect outcomes?
The Health Foundation
November 2011

Read more here.