Safety in Sight: Illuminating Hidden Barriers to Zero Harm

“Safety in Sight: Illuminating hidden barriers to zero harm” explores many challenges to provide safe patient care and provides creative insights to overcome them. The chapter discusses the obstacles that are inherent to healthcare culture but are tolerated and sometimes difficult to identify. These barriers can exist even in an experienced system and can lead to patient harm if not recognized and mitigated. Examples include power distance in traditional hierarchical structures and the effect on teamwork, normalization of deviance and how it leads to tolerance of lower safety standards, common obstacles to reporting errors, and the failure of a perceived just culture. Examples of these barriers and strategies for improvement are discussed in detail.