ASHRM Launches Serious Safety Events White Paper

In conjunction with the ASHRM 2012 theme of Getting to Zero™, ASHRM released the first in a series of white papers on Serious Safety Events (SSEs) at its 2012 Annual Conference & Exhibition. The white paper series will offer guidance on methods to manage, investigate, measure and prevent SSEs.

The focus on preventing SSEs is a top priority for ASHRM, as well as for the U.S. healthcare system. ASHRM created the Getting to Zero initiative to guide its members and the healthcare community in a proactive approach to reduce risks that lead to SSEs and improve patient safety. A key component in this proactive process is to share lessons that providers and risk managers have learned from managing and preventing SSEs.

ASHRM explains its Getting to Zero initiative in this white paper series. The first paper in the series sets direction for the following:

• Common definition for SSEs
• Rapid identification and prevention of SSEs
• SSE investigation through a skill-based model
• SSE measurement techniques to determine the effectiveness of prevention methods, save resources and SAVE LIVES