The administrator is the chief executive officer of the hospital and is responsible to the board. In a large hospital there are many separate departments, each of which is controlled by a department head. The largest department in any hospital is nursing, followed by the dietary department and housekeeping.

Patient safety is the reduction of unnecessary harm associated with health care to an acceptable minimum. It is a fundamental element of health care and is intended for freedom for a patient from unnecessary harm or potential harm associated with provision of health care.