With regards to Patient Safety and quality performance, what is Just Culture and its error types? Please explain in detail.

 

Question 1a

A just culture is one of the value-supported model used in showing shared accountability. A just culture helps in establishing a transparent and fair process used to evaluate the errors and finding the best actions to take based on the quality of the behaviors without considering the outcome of the various errors.

Question 1b

A just culture identifies three types of behavioral choice errors including human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behaviors.

Step-by-step explanation

Question 1a

A just culture is one of the value-supported model used in showing shared accountability. A just culture helps in establishing a transparent and fair process used to evaluate the errors and finding the best actions to take based on the quality of the behaviors without considering the outcome of the various errors. It is one of the cultures that hold most of the organizations responsible for all the systems they design. Also, it holds the organizations accountable for how they respond to the behaviors of the staff members justly and fairly within the organization. The model holds the staff and the managers accountable for all the problems taking place within an organization. The model is also effective because it can be integrated into most health care settings through clarification of behaviors that are associated with errors. Also, it assists in providing a consistent follow up with the various employees.

Question 1b

A just culture identifies three types of behavioral choice errors including human error, at-risk behavior, and reckless behaviors.

A human error is caused by a lapse, slip, or mistake. For example, when a medical practitioner accidentally runs the stop sign during an MRI test, it creates a human error. Human errors can be minimized by process improvements within the organization, changing the design of work, and increasing the level of training to the individuals.

At-risk behavior is caused by a choice. The risk is believed to be insignificant and justified when it occurs. For example, admitting patients in a ward with patients with tuberculosis puts the patients at risk of having the same disease. Therefore, it is perceived to be at-risk behavior. The errors can be prevented by increasing the level of awareness to the people and creating more incentives to promote healthy behaviors among individuals.

Lastly, reckless behaviors are errors caused by disregarding the unjustified and substantial risk. For example, treating a patient with the same set of materials used to treat another patient with coronavirus can be regarded as a reckless behavior that can lead to a higher risk of having medical problems among the individuals. The errors can be handled by having punitive and remedial actions.