HHS holds listening session on patient and workforce safety

Leaders from the Department of Health and Human Services and its umbrella agencies held a listening session this week with health system leaders and patient safety advocates. They discussed HHS’ plan to launch next year a National Healthcare System Action Alliance to Advance Patient Safety. Noting safety is a core value for their organizations, the health system leaders endorsed the concept of collaborating to achieve safer care for patients and protect their workforces. They urged HHS to recognize the challenges hospitals face, including workforce shortages and burnout, workplace violence, increased labor costs, inadequate reimbursement and emergency department boarding. They also asked HHS to reduce regulatory and measurement burden to free staff to focus on patient safety. HHS soon will release a video of the listening session and a request for public input for the Action Alliance’s agenda. (AHA News article, 11/15/22)