On December 5, the National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety (NAA) at the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched the National Healthcare Safety Dashboard, an online resource that aggregates hospital safety data from four key measurement sources. This dashboard provides a comprehensive view of the current state of patient and workforce safety.
NAA is a collective of federal agencies and private partners, led by the HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The AHRQ National Advisory Council, which advises the HHS Secretary and Director on healthcare improvements, has set an ambitious goal of reducing patient and workforce harm by 50 percent from its pandemic-driven peak by 2026.
According to the press release, the National Healthcare Safety Dashboard makes national safety data more transparent by providing a clear understanding of healthcare safety across different care settings, starting with hospitals. The platform will serve as a valuable resource for healthcare organizations, patient advocates, policymakers, and others to monitor national safety progress.
The initial version of the dashboard offers hospital safety data and will expand to include other healthcare settings such as ambulatory clinics and nursing homes.
“With the launch of the National Healthcare Safety Dashboard, we are taking a significant step toward leveraging departmental data to advance safe care everywhere and eliminate preventable harm for both patients and the healthcare workforce,” said Dr. Robert Valdez, AHRQ Director. “This tool allows the healthcare community to track progress and identify areas where we can collectively drive meaningful change. The dashboard represents a major advancement in making care delivery safer, more transparent, and accountable.”
The National Healthcare Safety Dashboard is now live and accessible to the public. HHS plans to continue working with partners to enhance the dashboard by incorporating additional data sources, such as workplace safety metrics and data from other provider types. HHS also welcomes feedback on the dashboard, which can be shared via email at NationalActionAlliance@hhs.gov.
You can view the Dashboard here: https://datatools.ahrq.gov/action-alliance/.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
The General Duty Clause from the OSHA Act of 1970 requires that, in addition to compliance with hazard-specific standards, all employers provide a work environment “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.” Workplace violence is a recognized hazard within the healthcare sector and as such, employers have the responsibility via the Act to abate the hazard. OSHA relies on the General Duty Clause for enforcement authority. Employers are obligated to comply with OSHA guidelines and standards and to ensure that all healthcare staff work in a safe environment. Failure by a facility to follow OSHA guidelines and regulations may result in a financial penalty and other sanctions.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures related to risk management and preventing workplace violence. Ensure that the policies and procedures incorporate OSHA’s guidelines and standards that are designed to support a safe working environment.
- Train staff on your policies and procedures related to preventing workplace violence. Ensure that all leadership staff are knowledgeable of OSHA’s guidelines and standards for a safe working environment. Staff should know that reporting any concerns is mandatory, and could save a life or prevent serious injury. Hold mock drills that include participation of law enforcement and other first responders to assess the effectiveness and competence of staff in responding to emergency situations, and provide information to residents and responsible parties through your usual communication modalities. Document these actions thoroughly.
- Periodically audit to ensure that staff are trained and knowledgeable of the OSHA guidance provided in your policies and procedures related to all categories of workplace violence, and that these protocols are being followed. Also audit to ensure that staff are aware of their duty to report any concerns to their supervisor, the compliance officer, or via the anonymous hotline.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, Inc. for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*
