Safety in Every Step: Honoring National Safety Month
By Courtney Ammons, Public Affairs Specialist
Creating a safe environment for Veterans goes beyond procedures and checklists — it requires a culture where every staff member is engaged, observant, and empowered to act.
During National Safety Month, we recognize the continuous work happening behind the scenes to ensure that safe, high-quality care remains at the center of our mission.
Our Patient Safety Office collaborates with departments across the medical center to identify risks, analyze incidents, and implement proactive strategies that support Veteran care. From preventing medication errors and infections to improving communication and fall prevention, the focus is always on protecting patients at every point in their care journey.
Staff engagement plays a key role in fostering this culture of safety. One impactful example is the “I Spy Suicide Room” training — a hands-on simulation where staff are challenged to identify objects in a mock patient room that could pose a risk to individuals in crisis. This exercise not only sharpens observation skills but also reinforces how to report findings and prevent harm in real-life scenarios.
Additionally, the Joint Patient Safety Reporting System (JPSR) enables employees to report safety events or near misses confidentially. Each report triggers a team review to determine contributing factors and develop solutions, which are then shared across units to support continuous learning and improvement.
Recent safety enhancements speak to this collaborative effort. In the Chemotherapy Clinic, new patient armbands now support barcode scanning for more accurate medication administration. Meanwhile, Specialty Care staff developed the Inspire pre-screen tool to help ensure Veterans with implanted devices can safely receive MRI scans, correcting misconceptions and expanding access to vital diagnostic care.
“Every staff member plays a role in making this a safe place to receive care,” said Aleta Johnson, RN, Patient Safety Manager. “It’s about staying alert, reporting concerns, and making improvements — together.”