Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

What is the best recommendation for the human resources department to support safety culture?

1. Record involvement in adverse events in personnel files.

2. Include human resources in all root cause analyses.

3. Use a tool to determine events attributed to human error.

4. Implement a tool and consult with HR on at-risk behavior cases.

The correct answer is: Implement a tool and consult with HR on at-risk behavior cases.

Implementing a tool and consulting with HR on at-risk behavior cases is the best recommendation for supporting safety culture because it emphasizes proactive measures to identify, understand, and mitigate behaviors that could compromise patient safety. This approach fosters a culture of safety by encouraging communication and collaboration between safety and human resources departments. It allows organizations to monitor and address behaviors that may lead to errors, thus preventing potential adverse events. Moreover, by involving human resources in discussions about at-risk behaviors, the organization demonstrates a commitment to improving safety through a supportive framework rather than punitive measures. This can enhance trust among staff, encourage reporting of unsafe practices, and facilitate continuous improvement in safety practices. In contrast, simply recording involvement in adverse events in personnel files may create a culture of fear and defensiveness where employees might be discouraged from reporting issues. Inclusion of human resources in all root cause analyses could enhance insights, but it may not directly address the ongoing management of at-risk behaviors. Similarly, using a tool to determine events attributed to human error could be beneficial but lacks the proactive engagement with HR essential for fostering a thriving safety culture.