In the Q with Randy Harmatz, M.B.A, CQO
Randy Harmatz, M.B.A., UF Health chief quality officer, discusses Patient Safety and Quality Week.
Every spring, as part of Patient Safety and Quality Week, we ask staff and physicians across UF Health to take a culture of safety survey and let us know how we are doing. The survey focuses on critical safety “domains” and asks questions about topics such as communication and teamwork, safety event reporting and overall perceptions of safety. Having a strong culture of safety is important because patient safety relies on us all to do our part to improve patient outcomes and reduce preventable harm. I am happy to report that for the fifth year in a row, we have seen improvements in almost every domain, from handoffs and communication to leadership support for patient safety. Several areas of the hospital saw significant improvements, including our intensive care units, surgical services and obstetrics. I am pleased and proud of our progress, but we must keep our culture moving forward. Each and every one of us is responsible for improving quality and safety, whether you are a nurse, pharmacist, transporter or an accountant. Just remember that the person responsible for improving patient safety is you!
