FORT HOOD, Texas  –   Patient safety remains a top priority at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, where staff across the organization are reinforcing best practices during Patient Safety Awareness Week.

CRDAMC’s commitment to safe, high-quality care is reflected in its continued national recognition. The hospital has received the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade “A” four times, highlighting its strong culture of safety and accountability.

According to Sonya Woodson, deputy assistant director for Quality and Safety, building and maintaining that culture requires participation from every member of the team.

“A strong patient safety culture is one where every staff member feels empowered and psychologically safe to speak up about concerns, report errors, and share near misses so we can learn and improve,” Woodson said. “At CRDAMC, we support this through daily safety huddles, leadership walkarounds, and actively recognizing staff who advocate for patient safety. This approach helps us identify system gaps early and continuously strengthen the safety of care we provide for our patients.”

Woodson said visible participation in safety initiatives helps reinforce trust with patients and families.

“Visible staff engagement in safety initiatives reassures our beneficiaries that they are safe in our care and reinforces the trust they place in us to provide the highest standards of quality, safe patient care,” she said.

For frontline staff, patient safety is part of everyday care and advocacy.

“Patient safety is important because, as nurses, we advocate for our patients,” said Katherine Willis, a registered nurse in the Emergency Department. “Patient Safety Awareness Week helps remind everyone how important it is to stay focused on the practices that keep our patients safe.”

Kimberly Carrington, a registered nurse in the medical-surgical pediatrics unit, said safety remains central to the care teams provide every day.

“It’s important because we don’t want our patients to get hurt while they’re in our care,” Carrington said. “Everything we do is focused on protecting our patients and making sure they receive the safest care possible.”

For the patient safety team, Patient Safety Awareness Week reinforces the importance of evidence-based practices and teamwork.

“Patient Safety Awareness is so important to me and my team because it aims to encourage staff to focus on the evidence-based principles that help to keep our patients safe,” said Jamie Wood, chief of Patient Safety and Infection Prevention and Control, Department of Quality Management. “This year’s theme is ‘Teaming up for Patient Safety,’ and it is important that we look at patient safety from a team approach as this highlights the significance of including the patient as an active member of their own care team.”

Wood said communication remains one of the most important tools for preventing harm.

“One practice we can all do to keep patients safe is effective communication,” Wood said. “Communication failures continue to be identified as a primary cause of medical errors leading to misdiagnosis, improper or delay in treatment, and other forms of patient harm. Closed-loop communication can help reduce ambiguity.”

Through initiatives like Patient Safety Awareness Week, CRDAMC staff continue strengthening a culture where every team member plays a role in protecting patients. The effort reinforces the hospital’s ongoing commitment to providing safe, reliable care for the community it serves.