As this week has progressed, I feel as if the group (myself included) is taxiing the runway preparing for take off. (Forgive the airline reference 🙂 Each day we’ve been learning new methods to communicate, relating harm to real patients and families, and gaining momentum to make a positive change in healthcare. When we return to our homes/schools/hospitals, we are now flying on our own, armed with a plethora of knowledge and resources that will enable us to actually influence change. The key is keeping the momentum going. There will be times when it may be difficult to stand up and do what’s right – we’ve discussed many situations where the hierarchical environment or poor communication make that difficult. However, we should always remember the personal stories shared this week and allow those experiences to encourage us to do the right thing. Each time we speak up for what is right will continue to build the momentum.
I am thankful for the experiences I’ve had this week and the people I’ve met. It has truly been a life-changing experience. I feel empowered to continue on with my work to improve patient safety and increase the quality of care. I also look forward to seeing great things come out of this group. I believe the culture of healthcare will be positively impacted as a result of this week.