Logo

Sign in | Create an Account Cart 0
Sign In
Forgot password?
Institutional Users can Sign In here
Don't have an Account?
Create an account
 
Forgot Password
 
Thank You for Registration

Thank-you for creating an account on Longwoods.com.

As a registered user of longwoods.com you can receive the following benefits:
  • Abstracts from ALL Longwoods.com publications
  • Citation tracking and reference links to full-text articles
  • Ability to share the information through various social media outlets with a single click
  • Ability to comment on any article
  • Pay-per-View purchases of single articles or issues by credit card or paypal
  • Choice of any www.longwoods.com/newsletters delivered to your email inbox for free
  • Ability to sign up for any www.longwoods.com/events.
  • The advantage of having password access to www.Longwoods.com from any computer anywhere
Please check your e-mail and follow the instructions to activate your account. If you do not receive an e-mail, please check your junk folder.
Reset Password

Please check your e-mail and follow the instructions to reset your password.

Menu
  • Home
  • Topics
    • Access to Care
    • Aging
    • Alternative Levels of Care
    • Caregivers
    • Change Management
    • Community Care
    • COVID-19
    • Decision Making
    • Digital Health
    • Effective Teamwork
    • Equity in Healthcare
    • Governance
    • Health Human Resources
    • Health System Innovation
    • Healthcare Costs
    • Healthcare Policy
    • Healthy workplaces
    • Home Care
    • Innovations in Care
    • Leadership Development
    • Long-Term Care
    • Longwoods Healthcare Services Radio
    • Mental Health
    • Nursing Leadership
    • Pandemic Planning
    • Patient Experience
    • Patient Safety
    • Patient-Centered Care
    • Primary Care
    • Public Health
    • Quality Improvement
    • System Integration
    • Workforce Planning
  • Events
    • Longwoods Breakfast Series
    • Healthcare Rounds
    • Leadership Discussion
    • Conferences and Education
    • Healthcare Awards
  • Publications
    • Healthcare Quarterly
    • HealthcarePapers
    • Healthcare Policy
    • Nursing Leadership
    • Insights
    • Special Issues
    • White Papers
    • Longwoods Blog
    • World Health & Population
    • ElectronicHealthcare
    • Law & Governance
    • Books
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
  • Jobs
    • Longwoods Job Site
    • HR Resources Database
    • Transitions
    • Rates for Job Postings
  • Subscribe

2010 Award Finalist

‘SafeStart’ your way to improving safety in home health care

Category - Improving Safety

The Problem

Client and staff safety is and must be a priority in all health care sectors. This is especially true in home care where there are fewer controls on the work environment. A recent study found a 13.2 percent adverse event rate in home care, compared to an estimated 7.5 percent in Canadian hospitals. VHA Home HealthCare began looking seriously at the issue after client survey ratings on the safety of care VHA provided indicated room for improvement. In addition, VHA was being hit hard by staff injuries resulting in WSIB claims. Clearly there was a need to improve safety performance at VHA.

The Innovation

The SafeStart program from Electrolab Systems is a proven and innovative approach to behavioural safety used primarily in the manufacturing industry. Despite the fact that the program had only limited application in the health care sector, and only in hospital settings, its key concepts seemed to fit as well for home health care as they do for industry and hospital settings. VHA decided to trial the program. Supervisors and Educators attended a train- the-trainer sessions offered by Electrolab Systems and subsequently pre-tested the training with members of the Patient Safety Committee. Adaptations for home care were made and the 10-hour training program was then piloted with two teams of approximately 50 personal support workers each.

The Results

Staff who participated in the SafeStart training program stated the learning was invaluable. At the completion of the five two-hour training segments all staff could consistently identify the four factors that influence client and staff safety: rushing, fatigue, complacency, and frustration. They also demonstrated understanding of the four critical errors that could result: eyes not on task, mind not on task, being in the line of fire and losing balance traction and grip.

Next Steps

The SafeStart program will continue to be rolled out to the front line teams at VHA. Evaluation of the program's effectiveness will be ongoing, and over time VHA expects to see fewer safety incidents among staff and clients receiving their services.

Contact information

Contact Us
Mailing address

260 Adelaide Street East, No. 8, Toronto ON M5A 1N1

Telephone number
416-864-9667
Fax number
416-368-4443

Subscribe Today

  • Healthcare Trio Package

    Healthcare Trio Package includes full subscriptions to Healthcare Quarterly, Healthcare Po [...]

Stay Connected

Newsletter
© 2025
Longwoods Publishing Corporation
  • Institutional Users
  • About Us
  • Subscription Information
  • Advertise
  • Reprints
  • Partners
  • Terms
  • Privacy