“First, do no harm” is one of the most fundamental principles of healthcare. Yet across the industry, preventable harm remains a persistent challenge. Medical errors, accidents, injuries, and infections affect an estimated one in four hospital inpatients and contribute to as many as 250,000 deaths each year, according to the Leapfrog Group. At Ascension, we believe healthcare organizations have a responsibility to lead with transparency, learning, and continuous improvement to reduce harm and strengthen trust with the communities we serve.
At Ascension, patient safety is not a checklist, it is a culture supported by strong systems, clinical excellence, and shared accountability. Across our Ministries and care sites, safety is embedded in how we deliver care each day. We prioritize evidence-based practices that strengthen clinical processes, empower associates to speak up and raise concerns, and foster environments where every patient is treated with vigilance, dignity, and respect. This commitment reflects our Mission and our purpose – healing without harm, and extending compassion to every person we serve.
“Teamwork is a foundational aspect of our quality and safety culture,” said Kelly Randall, PhD, LMSW, CPHQ, Vice President, Patient Safety and Compliance. “Safety is not a standalone initiative, but an essential part of who we are and how we live out our Mission and Values by upholding the dignity of those we serve.”
Through Ascension’s system-wide focus on Healing without Harm to improve patient safety:
- More than 4,000 deaths have been prevented since 2021 through improvements associated with our Recognize and Rescue program, resulting in a 20% reduction in risk-adjusted mortality.
- Our infection rates remain well below national benchmarks across key hospital-acquired conditions, including CLABSI, CAUTI, MRSA, and C. difficile.
- More than 1,100 potential harm events to patients have been avoided since the launch of Ascension’s Everyday Hero of Safety program.
- Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) composite score is 14% better than the national benchmark.
- 36% reduction in procedural-related sentinel events across Ascension.
Patient safety is a shared responsibility embraced by every associate, clinician, and leader across Ascension. By keeping safety at the center of our clinical operations and decision making, we honor our obligation to patients, families, and communities while delivering high-quality, reliable care every day.
