High Reliability Organizations
A high reliability organization achieves top outcomes despite operating in complex or high-risk environments. Examples include airline and nuclear industries. They get top results by:
- Standardizing processes for less variability
- Reducing errors to achieve zero harm in clinical and non-clinical areas
- Celebrating transparency and accountability
- Valuing everyone's input, regardless of rank
We've taken specific actions to improve health care access, quality, safety, transparency, and patient engagement. We're also continually working to standardize and spread these efforts, in a coordinated path to high reliability for the entire MHS.
Ready Reliable Care Principles
Seven principles of Ready Reliable Care guide our work and apply to all staff, in every job. By using these principles in our work, we advance high reliability:

Preoccupation with Failure
Drive zero harm by anticipating and addressing risks

Sensitivity to Operations
Be mindful of how people, processes, and systems impact outcomes

Deference to Expertise
Seek guidance from those with the most relevant knowledge and experience

Respect for People
Foster mutual trust and respect

Commitment to Resilience
Leverage past mistakes to learn, grow, and improve processes

Constancy of Purpose
Persist through adversity towards the common goal of zero harm

Reluctance to Simplify
Strive to understand complexities and address root causes
Domains of Change
System-wide progress happens across four domains of change:

Leadership Commitment
Prioritize Ready Reliable Care at all levels of leadership

Culture of Safety
Commit to safety and harm prevention

Continuous Process Improvement
Advance innovative solutions and spread leading practices

Patient Centeredness
Focus on patients' safety and quality of care experience