Individual Lifetime Achievement: Julianne M. Morath, RN, MS

Abstract

Background

This article provides a brief biography of Julianne M. Morath, describes the scope and impact of her patient safety initiatives at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in Minneapolis and St Paul, and includes an interview in which Morath responds to questions about challenges to patient safety and medical accident reduction.

Biography in brief

With a 25-year career spanning the spectrum of health care, Morath has served in leadership positions in health care organizations in Minnesota, Rhode Island, Ohio, and Georgia.

Leadership at the front line

Morath joined Children’s Hospitals and Clinics in 1999 and launched a major patient safety initiative that put Children’s on the map. Elements of the initiative included a culture of learning, patient safety action teams, open discussion of medical accidents and error, blameless reporting, and a full accident disclosure policy.

An interview with Julie Morath

As the greatest challenge to leadership ownership of the patient safety initiative, Morath cites the need to confront the myths of the medical system and to develop the awareness of the issues of patient safety. She believes that clinicians on the front lines will be convinced that patient safety isn’t “just another fad of the month” when leadership action is disciplined and aligns with what is being espoused. She advises other leaders of health care organizations interested in establishing a culture of safety to start with a personal and passionate belief that harm-free care is possible, to commit to informed action, and to identify and develop champions throughout the organization and medical staff.