Holland Bloorview is observing Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW) 2024 from October 28 – November 1. This year's theme, "What comes to mind when you think about healthcare harm?", encourages reflection on the critical role of safety in health care environments. 

At Holland Bloorview, we’re highlighting our safety coach program, a key initiative designed to enhance safety for both clients and staff. Through this program, safety coaches are trained to observe work behaviors, and provide peer-to-peer support, reinforcing the hospital’s error prevention safety practices and behavioral expectations.

Last year, our safety coaches facilitated error prevention training sessions across the organization, achieving over 85 per cent compliance. The error prevention training is now available as an -e-module on our hospital learning system for all new staff. This training, mandatory for all staff at Holland Bloorview, is a key component of our commitment to Caring Safely, reinforcing safe practices across the organization. It equips staff with the tools and knowledge needed to integrate safety into daily operations, fostering a culture of safety. The safety coach program is one of the several key initiatives in advancing our Caring Safely goal of achieving zero harm and becoming a high-reliability organization.

“Historically, patient safety has been focused on the prevention and reduction of physical harm, including injuries from falls. It is important to recognize that there are more aspects of harm beyond the physical sense. For example, people may experience psychological, social, and spiritual harm while giving, or receiving, health care.  Incorporating multiple perspectives on harm and safety helps us work together to be champions for safer care,” says Carly Calder, nursing student in safety and risk at Holland Bloorview.

Learn more about our Caring Safely initiative.