The American Hospital Association (AHA) and Press Ganey released a report on March 12 showing notable improvements in both patient care experience and healthcare workforce perceptions. The findings indicate a positive shift in hospital safety culture, which is linked to better patient outcomes and workforce resilience.
The report, titled “Improvement in Safety Culture Linked to Better Patient and Staff Outcomes,” reveals that 13 million patients surveyed after their hospital stays reported improvements in their overall care experience and safety perception. The surveys of 1.7 million healthcare workers also reflect a rebound in workforce resilience and safety culture, after the immense strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key findings include:
- Improvements in patient safety outcomes, such as reductions in falls and infections, across over 25,000 units in 2,430 hospitals.
- A rebound in healthcare workers’ reported experience and resilience since the pandemic.
- Positive changes in patient safety culture fostering better care experiences.
AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack emphasized that hospitals’ commitment to safety involves constant efforts to identify key drivers of better outcomes. He noted, “At the heart of healthcare are people caring for other people,” which is why investing in workforce well-being is critical.
The report was released during Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 9-15) and follows a September 2024 report from the AHA and Vizient that highlighted decreasing adverse safety events and an increase in healthcare screenings, despite the growing complexity of patient care.
This latest report is part of the AHA’s Patient Safety Initiative, launched in 2023, aimed at reaffirming hospitals’ leadership in patient safety. The initiative provides tools, data, and a platform for sharing best practices and innovation to sustain safety improvements across the industry.
