Putting Patient Safety First
Patient safety is not the responsibility of one person or one team, it’s an organization‑wide commitment woven into every department, workflow, and patient interaction. Our Quality & Risk Management team works behind the scenes every day, investigating concerns and responding to incidents. Their goal is to identify issues early, correct them across the system, and ensure we continue providing a safe, welcoming environment for every patient.
Every department plays a vital role in maintaining patient safety. That includes recognizing not only the obvious risks that could cause physical harm, but also the less visible issues that can impact a patient’s ability or willingness to seek care. Something as simple as an unresolved billing question might discourage a patient from returning, while a technical issue could prevent them from receiving important appointment reminders. For someone managing a chronic condition, missing even one visit can have serious health consequences.
Patient feedback is another essential part of our approach. We encourage patients to speak up whenever something doesn’t seem right, whether it’s an immediate safety concern or an experience that left them uneasy. Signs posted throughout our clinics reinforce this message, and our teams are trained to listen carefully and respond quickly.
When a patient safety incident does occur, it may seem like a one‑time event, but it’s critical to determine whether it reflects a broader pattern. The Quality & Risk Management team continually evaluates incidents for trends that could signal systemic issues.
“We're looking to address each individual issue as it arises, but we're also taking into account any trends,” said Yvonne Ebbelaar, Quality & Risk Manager.
To dig deeper into complex issues, the team uses a process called root cause analysis to understand what truly led to the event.
“We collaborate with clinic teams to figure out the closest root cause of the problem,” said Ebbelaar. “We can then correct it and mitigate the risk of it happening again.”
By identifying patterns early and pinpointing underlying causes, we can strengthen systems, refine workflows, and prevent small problems from growing into larger ones.
Patient safety is vitally important to Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. We continuously review our procedures, track data, monitor trends, and consider patient feedback, and always with the goal of maintaining a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for our patients.