This retrospective study explored whether staff perceptions of organizational culture at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) were associated with large-scale adverse events. The authors found an inverse association between a supportive organizational culture and the incidence of large-scale adverse events. Results suggest that in hospitals with reciprocal engagement (i.e., staff perceptions that the organization cares about the employee), staff are more likely to adhere to safety practices that prevent or mitigate large-scale adverse events.

The authors of this narrative review propose that hearing loss be included in the patient safety conversation, noting that poor hearing has been linked with poor outcomes including higher rates of hospitalization, increased length of stay, and greater likelihood for 30-day hospital readmission. The authors suggest that hearing loss be a priority item on safety agendas put forward by organizations such as The Joint Commission.