AIG Study Shows Hospital C-Suite and Risk Managers Struggle with Maintaining Patient Safety

The Wall Street Journal — NEW YORK — (BUSINESS WIRE) — April 19, 2013 — Maximizing patient safety is the top priority for hospital C-Suite executives and Risk Managers in the United States — but, “lack of teamwork, negative culture and poor communication” will present barriers to patient safety in the future — according to a new survey commissioned by American International Group, Inc. (AIG) in consultation with patient safety expert, Dr. Marty Makary, MD, MPH.

The results revealed a tension between what hospital leaders perceive as their number one priority in 2013, patient safety (64% C-Suite and 62% risk managers), and their number one threat, failing to maximize financial sustainability (60% C-Suite and 62% Risk Managers). While nearly all respondents (96% of C-Suite and Risk Managers) say their hospital has a “culture of patient safety,” one-third (33% of C-suite and 37% of Risk Managers) acknowledge that their hospital needs to undergo major changes to maintain that culture in the future.  Read more