The Transformative Journey to Becoming a High-Reliability Organization (HRO)
Kevin Lin, MBA
Sam Karim, MBA, PMP
Esmaeil Porsa, MD, MPH, MBA, CCHP-A
Steven D. Brass, MD, MPH, MBA, FACHE
Sept 5, 2025
Physician Leadership Journal
Volume 12, Issue 5, Pages 35-42
Abstract
Healthcare organizations increasingly aim to become high-reliability organizations (HROs) to ensure patient safety and enhance care quality. Becoming an HRO requires more than operational changes; it necessitates a cultural transformation prioritizing safety and continuous improvement. This review outlines the tactics our organization employed to achieve HRO status, focusing on leadership engagement, safety culture, process improvement strategies, and measurement of progress using a newly created HRO dashboard. Our results indicate significant progress in quality and patient safety, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive strategy encompassing goal-setting, adherence to HRO principles, and effective communication. These efforts have demonstrated the necessity of integrating measurement and strategic planning to drive cultural change and improve patient outcomes.
Topics
Healthcare Process
Quality Improvement
Action Orientation
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