Case Report
UMC Brackenridge in Austin, Texas, realized that getting everyone to practice high reliability safety behaviors would not come easy. After all, it would require associates be prepared to speak up and say to a colleague, or even a superior, "Excuse me, I feel at-risk for violence."
Even though 100 percent of associates had received high reliability safety training, the hospital realized that it would need to do more. To help drive this practice throughout the organization, the hospital identified a select group of associates who showed a passion and interest in safety. These employees became "Safety Coaches" and were given additional training to equip them with the skills to create alignment and build consensus.
The Safety Coaches meet regularly to discuss situations, share ideas, and learn from each other. UMC Brackenridge credits its Safety Coach initiative with fostering an environment where every employee is empowered to intervene in a non-threatening, non-judgmental manner, and to question any other employee about a behavior, process, or procedure.