Which action best demonstrates a leadership commitment to patient safety?

The action that best demonstrates a leadership commitment to patient safety is regularly participating in leadership rounds. This practice involves leaders engaging directly with staff, patients, and families to understand their perspectives and concerns about safety. By being present on the front lines, leaders can witness challenges firsthand, foster open communication, and promote a culture of safety. It emphasizes the importance of leadership visibility and accessibility in addressing safety issues, reinforcing to staff that patient safety is a priority.

While reporting on patient safety at board meetings is essential for transparency and strategic oversight, it does not encompass the direct engagement and interaction that leadership rounds provide. Similarly, implementing town hall meetings for information sharing is a valuable method for fostering communication but is less focused on direct observations and real-time feedback from those directly involved in patient care. Including executive representatives on root cause analysis teams shows commitment to addressing safety concerns, yet it may lack the proactive engagement reflected in regular leadership rounds. Therefore, the hands-on approach of participating in rounds is the most effective action to demonstrate a sustained commitment to patient safety.