Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1533298
14 Executive Briefing 1 EXECUTIVE BRIEFING As healthcare leaders increasingly focus on building a culture of safety, CMS' Patient Safety Structural Measure (PSSM) has emerged as a cornerstone for achieving and sustaining compliance with regulatory standards. Yet, while the significance of PSSM is widely acknowledged, its implementation can be complex, requiring a blend of strategic planning, technological innovation and human- centered insights. To explore these dynamics, Beterra Health — a healthcare technology company specializing in governance, risk and compliance — shared insights on the transformative power of technology, the critical role of staff feedback and actionable strategies for achieving PSSM readiness. Understanding the importance of PSSM PSSM compliance is not just an internal benchmark but a publicly visible indicator of a healthcare organization's commitment to safety. With safety metrics often influencing payer negotiations and public trust, organizations that excel in PSSM readiness position themselves favorably in payment models and regulatory evaluations. The PSSM is anchored in five key domains that serve as the foundation for its framework: 1. Leadership Commitment to Eliminating Preventable Harm 2. Strategic Planning and Organizational Policy 3. Culture of Safety and Learning Health System 4. Accountability and Transparency 5. Patient and Family Engagement These domains provide a structured approach for organizations to evaluate and enhance their safety practices. PSSM serves as a critical benchmark for healthcare organizations, signaling their commitment to systematized safety practices. It provides a framework for evaluating the structures and processes that underpin patient safety outcomes, ensuring that facilities are not only meeting regulatory requirements but also fostering an environment where safety is embedded into daily operations. "PSSM is not just a regulatory checkbox," Kapil Nair, Beterra co-founder and CEO said. "It's a lens through which organizations can view their safety culture, processes and outcomes. Compliance ensures accountability, but the real goal is creating a safer environment for patients and staff alike." Beterra has extensive experience administering safety culture surveys as well as deploying technology that helps clients drive toward continual, actionable improvement. Leveraging this experience, Beterra seeks to further impact the management and improvement of patient safety among its client base. Technology as a catalyst for simplifying PSSM readiness Beterra's approach to technology is rooted in simplifying the complexities of PSSM tracking and compliance. Daniel Baily, co-founder and chief product officer, highlighted how Beterra's platform addresses key challenges in efficiency and workflows. "One of the biggest hurdles we see is the administrative burden," Mr. Baily said. "The leaders responsible for compliance are dependent on the engagement of busy, operational leaders. Our technology streamlines data collection, reporting and gap analysis, giving leaders a real-time view of their readiness without the administrative overhead. It's about making the process manageable so teams can focus on the real work of improvement." A roadmap to quality + compliance: Insights to excel in patient safety 2025_Jan_Beterra_EB.indd 1 2025_Jan_Beterra_EB.indd 1 22/01/2025 11:15 22/01/2025 11:15