What is Just Culture? And Why is It Important?

August 6, 2024

Just culture is a model of shared accountability meant to create positive healthcare environments. This approach focuses on promoting learning, supporting the design and implementation of safety systems, guiding behavioral choices, and achieving a fair conclusion for those involved in an incident or near miss.

This new work culture is an important change from the historical precedent in which healthcare organizations implemented punitive consequences of blame and shame to those involved in accidents or near misses – often resulting in individuals choosing not to disclose errors because they were afraid of being penalized. Just culture emphasizes openness, learning from mistakes and ultimately fostering a community in which employees feel comfortable voicing concerns without the fear of retaliation.

ISMIE offers a new resource on just culture in healthcare aimed at helping you work toward building a foundation of trust and transparency within your organization.

If you have questions, please contact the Risk Management Division by email.