Operationalizing Safety Through Effective Huddles
Tiered safety huddles are one of the most effective answers. When designed well, they create a predictable cadence for identifying risks, escalating barriers, and connecting frontline insights to leadership action. The evidence supporting this approach is substantial. A systematic review of 158 healthcare huddle studies found consistent improvements across communication, situational awareness, safety culture, and…
The End of the Rehearsed Survey – And Why That’s A Good Thing
By: Chris Dube | President, Sentact CMS’ accreditation overhaul closes the curtain on survey-week theater. The hospitals that thrive under it will be the ones whose ordinary Tuesday is their best evidence. On June 12, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized a rule aimed squarely at the watchers themselves. Announcing the Strengthening…
Huddle Smarter: The Case for Automating Patient Safety’s Most Powerful Workflow
Safety huddles are one of the most evidence-backed practices in modern healthcare. Borrowed from high-reliability industries like aviation and nuclear power, they have been widely adopted across healthcare organizations as a mechanism for surfacing risk, aligning teams, and preventing adverse events before they occur. The evidence supporting them is compelling. Studies link regular safety huddles…
Building a Risk Management Framework for AI in Healthcare
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, creating new opportunities to improve clinical decision-making, optimize operations, and enhance patient care. At the same time, AI introduces complex risks related to governance, patient safety, data integrity, bias, regulatory compliance, and organizational accountability. As healthcare organizations expand their use of AI, effectively managing these emerging risks has…
10 Elements of a Just Patient Safety Culture
Patient safety culture is the foundation of high-quality healthcare, requiring every member of an organization to work together to prevent harm and continuously improve care. While healthcare organizations have made significant progress in reducing preventable adverse events, sustaining those improvements depends on more than policies and procedures—it requires a strong culture where safety is prioritized,…
Embracing Empathy: The Critical Role of Kindness in Improving Patient Care
Kindness in healthcare is a powerful driver of patient-centered care, shaping the experiences of patients, families, and healthcare professionals alike. While healthcare organizations continue to navigate increasing operational pressures, fostering a culture of kindness can strengthen communication, improve trust, enhance employee wellbeing, and contribute to better patient outcomes. More than a compassionate gesture, kindness is…
The Power of Anonymous Reporting for Patient Safety & Accountability
Anonymous reporting is a valuable component of a strong patient safety culture, empowering employees, patients, and visitors to report concerns without fear of retaliation. By reducing barriers to speaking up, healthcare organizations can uncover hidden risks, identify emerging trends, and respond to safety issues before they result in harm. When supported by a culture of…
Strategies for Fostering a Culture of Psychological Safety in Healthcare
Psychological safety in healthcare is essential to building a resilient healthcare workforce and a strong culture of patient safety. When employees feel comfortable speaking up, reporting concerns, asking questions, and learning from mistakes without fear of blame or retaliation, organizations are better equipped to improve communication, reduce risk, and deliver high-quality care. As healthcare teams…
10 Ways to Prevent Patient Falls
Patient falls remain one of the most common and costly safety events in healthcare, affecting patient outcomes, staff workload, and organizational performance. While many falls are preventable, reducing fall risk requires more than isolated interventions—it demands a proactive, organization-wide approach focused on identifying hazards, engaging frontline staff, and continuously improving care processes. Effective fall prevention…
Executive POV: High Reliability Needs More Than a Culture Change — It Needs Scaffolding
By: Nicholas Testa, MD | Chief Clinical Officer, Sentact I want to start with a definition, because I think it matters more than most people realize. When I talk with healthcare leaders about improving their organizations, I always come back to one fundamental question: what is healthcare, exactly? To improve something, you first must define…