System governance towards improved patient safety
Key functions, approaches and pathways to implementation
Safety governance refers to the approaches taken to minimise the risk for patient
harm across an entity or system. It typically comprises steering and rule-making functions
such as policies, regulations and standards. To date, governance has focused on the
clinical level and the hospital setting, with limited oversight and control over safety
in other parts of the health system. All 25 countries that responded to a 2019 OECD
Survey of Patient Safety Governance have enacted legislation that aims to promote
patient safety. These practices include external accreditation and inspections of
safety processes and outcomes. Safety governance models are also moving away from
punishment and shaming towards increased trust and openness. Learning from success
as well as failures represents a paradigm shift in safety governance, an approach
that has been increasingly adopted in OECD countries.
Published on September 17, 2020
In series:OECD Health Working Papersview more titles