5️⃣ SOPS® Beyond Scores: We Collected the Data, Now What?

Understanding your patient safety culture survey data 

Conducting an Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) assessment is a critical step in improving patient safety, but the real value lies in what healthcare facilities do with their results. Many organizations focus on identifying weaknesses, but it's just as important to recognize strengths. So, once you've collected the data, what's next?

Watch the fifth video from our six-part patient safety culture series

Step 1: Compile the data into a usable format 

After gathering responses, the priority should be organizing the data into a format that facilitates analysis. This means: 

• creating tables, graphs and charts that provide clear insights; 

• benchmarking results against the AHRQ national benchmarks; and 

• comparing unit-level performance within a hospital or across facilities. 
  
  

Step 2: Analyze benchmarking to assess performance 

Benchmarking is crucial to understanding how your patient safety culture compares both internally and externally. By examining how different units perform relative to each other and against national standards, healthcare organizations can: 

• identify key areas of strength in patient safety culture; 

• pinpoint areas where improvement is needed; and 

• monitor progress over time. 
  
  

Step 3: Utilize data-driven insights for actionable change 

Raw data alone isn’t enough. Healthcare facilities need insights that are actionable and easy to interpret. That’s where tools like DataGen’s Culture of Safety Insights™ comprehensive reporting come in — turning survey responses into digestible information, including: 

• visual dashboards with clear performance snapshots; 

• automated debriefing tools to help leadership teams strategize; and 

• easy to identify areas of excellence for staff recognition. 
  
  

Step 4: Engage staff for continuous safety culture improvement 

Understanding how staff perceive patient safety is key to fostering improvement. Using a structured approach, hospitals can create targeted action plans that boost staff participation and confidence in SOPS®' patient safety initiatives. Celebrating high-performing units encourages engagement and reinforces a strong culture of safety. 

Take the next step in advancing patient safety culture 

A Surveys on Patient Safety Culture™ (SOPS®) assessment is more than just a score — it’s a roadmap to meaningful change. By leveraging benchmarking data and actionable insights, hospitals and healthcare organizations can enhance their patient safety culture and drive measurable improvements in staff and patient outcomes. 

Keep your learnings going 

Watch our entire “SOPS® Beyond Scores” playlist on YouTube, and make sure to like and subscribe to our DataGen Healthcare Insights channel for future updates and series. 

To make sure you didn’t miss anything, watch our previous video on how hospital leadership can set the example. Then, enjoy our last blog in this series on ensuring data accuracy. 

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