The descriptions for this measure come from source: www.leapfroggroup.org.

Health care workers can help stop harm by carefully cleaning their hands between patients, using communicating correct medication information, and working together effectively. This section of the Survey focuses on eight of the 34 practices identified by the National Quality Forum as having a major positive impact on the safety of patients in health care settings. 

The eight Safe Practice/Elements are listed below:

• Effective leadership to prevent errors
• Staff work together to prevent errors
• Training to improve safety
• Track and reduce risks to patients
• Enough qualified nurses
• Handwashing
• Take steps to prevent ventilator problems
• Correct medication information is communicated

About this measure

Performance on these individual eight measures makes up a hospital's overall score.  

Scores are reported as:

1 = Willing to Report
2 = Some Progress
3 = Substantial Progress
4 = Fully Meets the Standard

Note: In this measure, a higher number is better.