Patient Safety Week 2023: Celebrating coaches with a passion for safety

In the spirit of Patient Safety Awareness Week 2023, it’s time to celebrate our Michigan Medicine HRO Safety & Reliability Coaches!

Last October, the first cohort of coaches celebrated their one-year anniversary. Each safety & reliability coach was given a personalized certificate of achievement and a zip-up jacket in recognition of their hard work to help keep patients and employees safe.

Coaches in the program provide positive feedback for their team members, focusing on what is being done correctly when it comes to safety, not just what could be improved upon. Additionally, they translate and encourage the use of HRO Universal Skills and Tools within their team’s daily work.

The safety & reliability coach program began in October 2021 with 10 members in C&W Hospital and has since grown to 107 members, with an expansion into Ambulatory Care and the Adult Hospitals.

“What excites me the most about the safety & reliability coaches is their passion for reducing preventable patient and employee harm, enthusiasm for helping those around them adopt our High Reliability behaviors, skills, and tools; and their overwhelming curiosity and creativity,” said Kathrynn Thompson, high reliability lead at Michigan Medicine. “Whether it is in our monthly meetings or walking through the different areas and departments, we hear and can see examples of their incredible work and how it is influencing those around them. There is a lot to celebrate!”