Page 30 - IMPRESSION Newsletter April19
P. 30
SAFETY
D
Concerned Uncomfortable Safety
CUSsing for Safety
Preventable medical errors are the third State why you are Uncomfortable.
leading cause of death in the United States If a technologist tells a provider “I am
and communication failure is the third most uncomfortable because,” it conveys the message
commonly identified root cause of all sentinel that the technologist believes the provider may
events. The CUS tool is a teamwork and have missed the expression of “concern,” which is
communication framework developed to now elevated and at risk of turning into an error
improve safe healthcare delivery through the or dangerous situation.
use of three very important words:
State that this is a Safety issue.
Concerned
Uncomfortable Finally, when someone says “This is a safety
Safety issue,” the current action must stop and be
evaluated before continuing. Identify why it’s a
Although, these three words certainly aren’t safety issue and state what actions you think
as “colorful” as other cuss words that should should be taken.
remain out of a professional healthcare
setting, they serve vital role as an effective Having a common framework of three simple
verbal alarm, empowering healthcare words provides all team members an attention-
providers to “stop the line.” grabbing communication tool as well as a clear
idea of the level of importance associated with any
When you speak the signal words of the CUS information. However, like any tool, these terms
tool—Concern, Uncomfortable, Safety—you must be used when warranted if they are to
alert team members and cue them to clearly become a useful part of your safety culture.
understand not just the issue but also its
magnitude or severity. Every team member Encouraging your team members to CUS when it
should familiarize themselves with the CUS is appropriate can provide considerable safety
words and should be comfortable using them enhancements throughout the organization
and recognizing their underlying meaning..
State your Concern
When a member of the care team says the
phrase “I am concerned about…,” the word
“concerned” is being used to get the team’s or
physician’s attention and ensure that
everyone is actively listening to the concern.
