Our journey to zero: Reducing serious safety events by over 70% through high‐reliability techniques and workforce engagement

The techniques and best practices used to achieve a successful safety culture transformation and drive down the incidence of serious safety events are described. The Safety Transformation Initiative at Children's National resulted in national and local recognition, a financial savings of an imputed $35 million, and a greater than 70% decrease in the serious safety event rate over a 3-year period (July 1, 2008–June 30, 2011). The results were achieved during a time of significant financial constraints and with limited resources. A blueprint detailing specifics of the implementation is presented to assist others in achieving similar results. Our safety transformation was initiated in our fiscal year 2009 as part of a 3-year corporate goal. The work is continuing and we aspire to virtually eliminate serious safety events by 2016.