Background
The Safe Patients/Safe Staff program was developed at Mount Sinai Hospital, part of Sinai Health System in Toronto, as a hospital-wide strategy to improve safety and self-efficacy of health-care providers in the care of patients with aggressive behaviours. The program aims to bridge frontline clinician knowledge and practice gaps and develop a hospital-wide culture built around safety and support.
The Safe Patients/Safe Staff program has demonstrated a benefit to Sinai Health System and our team has provided consultation to other health-care organizations in adapting the program.
Safe Patients/Safe Staff Program: A Four-Pronged Approach
Standardized
Standardized procedures & tools for intake, care and discharge designed to better inform front line clinicians and reduce staff uncertainty, risk and burden caring for high risk/high needs patients.
Proactive
A comprehensive screening system consisting of an IT flagging system and a proactive policy for front line clinicians, coupled with a rapid response BOOST Team, provide early identification and care for high risk/high needs patients.
Skill-Building
Extensive staff training through multi-modal learning tools provides flexible e-training that can be easily accessed and hands on training working with standardized patients in a safe learning climate.
Collaborative
Support from external networks and hospital leadership emphasizes a culture of staff safety.