Abstract

Just culture supports learning, encourages transparency and minimizes harm following reported patient safety incidents. Healthcare leaders have a key role in establishing and maintaining a just culture to improve patient safety at the macro, meso and micro levels of the healthcare system. In this paper, we discuss the role of leaders at various levels in the healthcare system in fostering a just culture to support the reporting of and learning from patient safety incidents. Specifically, leadership challenges related to establishing a just culture to improve patient safety are analyzed. In addition, we identify opportunities for healthcare leaders to foster a just culture.