US Department of Defense Patient Safety Program

The US Department of Defense Patient Safety Program was “was created [in 2001] to identify and report actual and potential problems in medical systems and processes and to implement effective actions to improve patient safety and health care quality throughout the MHS [Military Health System].

The Welcome Statement stresses that they “encourage a systems approach to creating a safer patient environment; engaging MHS leadership; promoting collaboration across all three services; and fostering trust, transparency, teamwork, and communication.”

The Home Page has a well organized Site Map with essential links, social media links, education/training links, and links to research and news items.

While many educational resources (as continuing education courses) are closed to the public, these educational items are freely available to all.  [Descriptions are from the Patient Safety Program Web Page]

• Patient Falls Reduction Toolkit: Falls have been the number one harm event reported to the Department of Defense (DoD) Patient Safety Analysis Center (PSAC) since its inception. These tools are offered as guidance and are designed to assist you with creating an institutional awareness and response to patient falls – education, prevention, assessment, reassessment, intervention, and continuous improvement.Click here to access the Patient Falls Reduction Toolkit.
  
  
• Professional Conduct Toolkit: The toolkit is designed for health professionals who may be serving in leadership roles or who are seeking resources for addressing behaviors that negatively impact patient safety and that disrupt the clinical work environment.

Click here to access the Professional Conduct Toolkit

• Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) Toolkit: Evidence shows that use of a structured communication tool known as SBAR can improve information exchange among healthcare team members and reduce the rate of adverse events.

Click here to access the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) Toolkit.