Previous Announcements About SOPS Surveys

AHRQ Seeking Nursing Homes for Pilot Study of SOPS Workplace Safety Survey Items

AHRQ is seeking nursing homes to participate in a pilot study of Workplace Safety Supplemental Item Set for the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture^® (SOPS^®) Nursing Home Survey. The new supplemental item set focuses on the extent to which nursing homes’ organizational culture supports the safety of staff in the workplace. Eligible nursing homes may receive an incentive for their participation in the pilot test. If selected, participating nursing homes will receive:

• Free survey administration of the SOPS Nursing Home Survey with the Workplace Safety Supplemental Items to nursing home staff in July/August 2022.
• Feedback reports comparing their results to other pilot sites.
• The option to have findings included in the next SOPS Nursing Home Database.

Workplace Safety Supplemental Items for Hospitals 

In November of 2021, AHRQ released the Surveys on Patient Safety^® (SOPS®) Workplace Safety Supplemental Items. The supplemental items assess the extent to which the hospital’s organizational culture supports workplace safety for providers and staff.

Hospitals can administer the items at the end of the SOPS Hospital Survey 2.0, just before the background questions. Data from the supplemental items may be submitted along with SOPS Hospital Survey data during the next Database submission period, June 1 – July 22, 2022.

AHRQ Post-Webcast Materials for “New AHRQ SOPS® Workplace Safety Supplemental Items for Hospitals”

In October 2021, AHRQ released the new Workplace Safety Supplemental Item Set for the SOPS Hospital Survey. Hospitals can use the survey item set as a supplement to the Hospital Survey to assess the extent to which the organizational culture supports workplace safety for providers and staff. Speakers provided background on the importance of workplace safety, an overview of the development of the item set, and results from a pilot test in 28 hospitals and shared resources available for users.

Learn more about the Workplace Safety Supplemental Item Set for Hospital SOPS.

Select to access a recording of the webcast and presentation slides.

Diagnostic Safety Supplemental Items for Medical Offices

In April of 2021, AHRQ released the Surveys On Patient Safety^® (SOPS®) Diagnostic Safety Supplemental Items. The supplemental items assess the extent to which a medical office’s culture supports the diagnostic process, accurate diagnoses, and communication around diagnoses.

Medical offices can administer the items at the end of the SOPS Medical Office Survey, just before the Background Questions.

AHRQ Post-Webcast Materials for “New AHRQ SOPS® Diagnostic Safety Supplemental Items for Medical Offices” 

In April 2021, AHRQ released the new Diagnostic Safety Supplemental Item Sets for the SOPS Medical Office Survey. Medical offices can use the survey item set as a supplement to the Medical Office Survey to assess the extent to which the organizational culture supports the diagnostic process, accurate diagnoses, and communication around diagnoses. Speakers provided background on the importance of diagnostic safety, an overview of the development of the item set, and results from a pilot test in 66 medical offices and shared resources available for users.

Learn more about the Diagnostic Safety Supplemental Item Set for Medical Office SOPS.

Select to access a recording of the webcast and presentation slides.

Under Development: New Workplace Safety Supplemental Items for the Hospital SOPS 

To address emerging needs, AHRQ is developing and pilot testing supplemental items on workplace safety that can be added to the Surveys on Patient Safety Culture^® (SOPS^®) Hospital Survey. The Workplace Safety Supplemental Items address hospital organizational culture supporting workplace safety for providers and staff. Draft survey items under development assess:

• Provider and staff exposure to workplace hazards.
• Moving, transferring, or lifting patients.
• Workplace aggression.
• Supervisor and management support for workplace safety.
• Workplace safety and reporting; and
• Provider and staff work stress and burnout.

Hospital leadership can use the Workplace Safety Supplemental Items to:

• Raise awareness about provider and staff workplace safety;
• Assess workplace safety from the perspectives of providers and staff; and
• Identify strengths and aspects of provider and staff workplace safety in need of improvement.

Learn more about the new Workplace Safety Supplemental Items.

SOPS Videos Receive Awards for Excellence 

Videos developed to promote the use of AHRQ's Surveys on Patient Safety Culture^® (SOPS^®) have won awards from groups that recognize excellence in communications.

Why Choose the AHRQ Surveys on Patient Safety Culture? and Why Submit Data to the AHRQ SOPS Databases? earned 2020 Communicator Awards for Excellence in Individual Nonprofit Online Videos, as well as 2020 Bronze Telly Awards in the Government Relations for Branded Content category.

These videos were funded by AHRQ and produced through a contract to Westat.