What is the primary goal of patient safety at Houston Methodist?

The primary goal of patient safety at Houston Methodist is to prevent harm to patients and ensure quality of care. This encompasses a comprehensive approach to safeguarding patient well-being, which includes identifying potential hazards, implementing protocols to minimize risks, and fostering a culture of safety within the healthcare environment. By prioritizing patient safety, healthcare providers can reduce the occurrence of medical errors, adverse events, and complications, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and a higher standard of care.

While enhancing staff training and development, reducing hospital costs, and improving patient satisfaction scores are important aspects of healthcare operations, they are secondary to the fundamental objective of ensuring patient safety. Effective staff training can contribute to safety, cost reductions may arise from fewer errors, and satisfied patients often result from high-quality care—but these are all means to an end, rather than the primary focus. The ultimate aim remains the protection of patients and the delivery of care that meets rigorous safety standards.