Integrating risk management activities into a patient safety program.

A departmental culture that encourages continuous quality care and honest, critical introspection is pivotal to patient safety. Risk management enriches departmental quality efforts, providing evidence-based direction and flag vulnerabilities. Quality leaders should establish a close relationship with risk management, be aware of the risk management resources available, and communicate clear expectations for staff and risk management personnel for the collection and use of information acquired by risk management relating to near misses, unexpected outcomes, and medical errors. Integrating risk management resources into department-wide patient safety program can result in higher quality patient care, safer departmental staff, and lower risk.