Open AccessManagement commitment to safety, teamwork, and hospital worker injuries
Author(s) -
Alyssa K. McGonagle,
Lynnette Essenmacher,
Lydia E. Hamblin,
Mark Luborsky,
Mark Upfal,
Judith E. Arnetz
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of hospital administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1927-7008
pISSN - 1927-6990
DOI - 10.5430/jha.v5n6p46
Subject(s) - teamwork , patient safety , nursing , organizational culture , work (physics) , medicine , health care , public relations , management , engineering , political science , mechanical engineering , law , economics
Although many studies link teamwork in health care settings to patient safety, evidence linking teamwork to hospital worker safety is lacking. This study addresses this gap by providing evidence linking teamwork perceptions in hospital workers to worker injuries, and further, finds a linkage between manager commitment to safety and teamwork. Organizational records of worker injuries and survey responses regarding management commitment to safety and teamwork from 446 hospital workers within 42 work units in a multi-site hospital system were examined. Results underscored the particular importance of teamwork on worker injuries as well as the importance of management commitment to safety as relating to teamwork. To improve worker safety, organizational leaders and unit managers should work to maintain environments wherein teamwork can thrive.