What do safeguards aim to achieve in a system approach?

Safeguards in a system approach are designed to avoid lapses of judgment by qualified individuals, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and quality of operations within an organization. By implementing safeguards, organizations ensure that procedures and protocols are in place to reduce the likelihood of human error due to oversight or misjudgment. This focus on human factors helps to create a more reliable environment where decisions made by staff are supported by structured guidelines, training, and necessary checks and balances.

While preventing financial losses, enhancing patient satisfaction, and improving documentation of care are important goals for healthcare organizations, they are often considered outcomes or benefits that arise from effective systems and safeguards in place rather than the primary focus of what safeguards are designed to achieve. In essence, the goal of safeguards is to create a system where informed and judicious decisions can be consistently made, thereby bolstering the overall quality and safety of care provided.