Mindfulness: Danger in checking off the box

My first day at Telluride patient safety camp already began to infect me with the ideals and tools needed to change the status quo. Practicing mindfulness, I tried to apply new concepts to what I have seen in the hospital. While the pediatric hospital I have spent the most time at does practice family centered, multidisciplinary, bedside rounds, and have many quality improvement projects occurring, the room to grow is tremendous. I think the most danger comes in “checking off the box”. As Helen Haskell eloquently and bravely put, when a system becomes task oriented instead of patient centered, safety and quality lose. A system for its own benefit will generate adverse events.

The general feeling I left the end of Monday with was discomfort. The idea that I will be taking the reins on patient care in three short years is a terrifying thought. I hope that I can draw on lessons from Telluride to remember to stay goal oriented, patient centered, and most of all scared in order to provide safe, quality care.