A large insurance company recently sponsored a survey examining how hospital executives view patient safety. The overwhelming majority stated that patient safety was their biggest priority; however, they also reported that maintaining fiscal stability was their biggest threat. The respondents noted that the emphasis on patient safety must come from the top, and is a shared responsibility of all employees; however, 52% thought nurses "own" patient safety processes, but only 4% thought the medical staff "own" patient safety processes. The biggest reported challenges to establishing a strong patient safety program were communication, teamwork and a negative culture.

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