Integration & Application of High Reliability Theory by DNPs to Enhance Patient Safety and Quality

Integration & Application of High Reliability Theory by DNPs to Enhance Patient Safety and Quality The DNP is in a prime role to be a leader and can make monumental leadership changes needed in healthcare delivery systems. One key strategy to enhance interprofessional healthcare teams is through application of high reliability theory in healthcare organizations where the consequences of medical error are high and the occurrence of error may be low (Baker, et al., 2006). DNPs integrating high reliability theory into their practice have a unique opportunity to foster and promote safe care and safety. There is a substantive and significant difference in creating a culture of safety and quality in healthcare organizations when the DNP applies high reliability theory versus in healthcare organizations where the DNP does not apply high reliability theory particularly as related to interprofessional healthcare teams. The outcome of application of the high reliability theory is to create cultures of safety and quality through application of high reliability theory. When DNPs apply high reliability theory there is facilitation of a culture of interprofessional collaboration resulting in enhanced quality and safety outcomes. The focus of this presentation is to examine how the DNP may apply the high reliability theory to improve quality and safety by helping create an interprofessional culture that is patient-centered and focuses on creating a culture that embraces high reliability theory. Specifically high reliability theory assists inteprofessional healthcare teams to understand errors, prevent untoward patient outcomes and injury, and ensure quality care with each patient encounter. The three purposes of this presentation are to: 1) Review the concept of Òhigh reliability theoryÓ and its application to enhance patient quality and safety in organizations where the consequences of medical error; 2) Examine the role of the DNP in application of Òhigh reliability theoryÓ to create and sustain interprofessional collaboration enhancing patient safety and quality in healthcare organizations; and 3) Identify three strategies the DNP can use through application of high reliability standards to advance interprofessional collaboration creating a culture of patient quality and safety in a variety of healthcare delivery settings.