New Guide Can Help to Establish a Fair and Open Culture

​When a resident or patient safety incident occurs, typically the actions of one individual are not solely responsible. Establishing a "just culture," in which consistent, constructive, and fair evaluations of staff actions occur after incidents, is essential to making sure the events do not happen again. With this in mind, the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) has released a Just Culture Guide that organizations can use to determine whether action should be taken against an individual following an adverse incident. Promoting a culture of fairness, openness, and learning can make staff feel more confident in speaking up when mistakes occur, rather than fearing blame, NHS said. The guide takes users through a series of questions beginning with whether the person deliberately caused harm.