Patient Safety Planning Tools / Leadership / WalkRounds
Key components of WalkRounds:
People
- The patient safety coordinator (see Coordination) attends every time
- One or more members of leadership (can be different each time)
- Consider including patients and family members in some rounds
Place and time
- Go to every area — clinical care, facilities, housekeeping, etc.
- Set a schedule that rotates through areas over time
- Pick times that are convenient for staff (e.g., don’t conflict with clinical activities and be sure to reach staff who work different shifts)
- Conversation
Conversation
- Explain that the goal is to hear ideas and take action to improve patient safety
- Ask questions about recent adverse events and close calls for patient and colleague safety
- Listen attentively
- Focus on specific examples of patient harm or close calls/concerns
Follow up
- Follow up with staff about actions taken
- Keep notes about all rounds and actions taken in one place
For more about facilities that used WalkRounds successfully, click here.