Domain 1 - Key and Enabling Competencies

Contribute to a Culture of Patient Safety

Definition: A commitment to applying core patient safety knowledge, skills and attitudes to everyday work

 1.   Health care professionals who commit to patient and provider safety through safe, competent, high-quality daily practice.

1.1.   Are able to articulate their role as individuals, as professionals, and as health care system employees in providing safe patient care

1.2.   Act as role models and champion patient-safety behaviours

1.3.   Recognize personal limitations and ask for assistance when required

1.4.   Demonstrate knowledge of policies and procedures as they relate to patient and provider safety, including disclosure

1.5.   Report unsafe processes within the health care system

1.6.   Participate actively in event and close call reporting, event analyses and process improvement initiatives

1.7.   Exchange feedback with colleagues on safety issues on an ongoing basis in an open manner

1.8.   Integrate safety practices into daily activities (e.g., hand hygiene)

1.9.   Recognize clinical situations that may be unsafe and support the empowerment of all staff to resolve unsafe situations

1.10. Demonstrate a commitment to a just culture, promoting fair approaches to dealing with adverse events

1.11. Advocate for improvements in system processes to support professional practice standards and the best patient care

2.  Health care professionals who are able to describe the fundamental elements of patient safety, understand:

2.1.   Core theories and terminology of patient safety and the epidemiology of unsafe practices

2.2.   The use of evaluative strategies to promote safety

2.3.   The risks posed by personal and professional limitations

2.4.   Principles, practices and processes that have been demonstrated to promote patient safety

2.5.   The nature of systems and latent failures in the trajectory of adverse events

2.6.   The emotional impact of adverse events on patients, families and health care professionals

2.7.   Methods by which health care professionals can advocate for patient and health care system safety

2.8.   The elements of a just culture for patient safety, and the role of professional and organizational accountability

2.9.   The concept that health care is a complex adaptive system with many vulnerabilities, (e.g., space or workplace design, staffing, technology)

3. Health care professionals who maintain and enhance patient safety practices through ongoing learning:

3.1. Identify opportunities for continuous learning and improvement for patient safety

3.2. Reflect on actions and decisions continuously, with self-awareness and using self-evaluation, to improve knowledge and skills in patient safety

3.3. Analyze a patient safety event and give examples on how future events can be avoided

3.4. Participate in patient and health care professional safety education

3.5. Share information on adaptations to practices and procedures that increase safety for specific individuals or situations

3.6. Contribute to the creation, dissemination, application, and translation of new health care system safety knowledge and practice

3.7. Participate in self- and peer assessments reflecting on practice and patient outcomes

4. Health care professionals who demonstrate a questioning attitude as a fundamental aspect of safe professional practice and patient care:

4.1.   Recognize that continuous improvement in patient care may require them to challenge existing methods

4.2.   Identify existing procedures or policies that may be unsafe or are inconsistent with best practices and take action to address those concerns

4.3.   Re-examine simplistic explanations for adverse events to facilitate optimal changes to care

4.4.   Demonstrate openness to change