On World Patient Safety Day, the Biden administration announced a series of healthcare safety initiatives aimed at reducing preventable harm in hospitals and healthcare settings. Central to these efforts is the creation of the National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety, which will develop a National Healthcare Safety Dashboard to track progress in reducing harm. The dashboard will initially focus on hospitals before expanding to other care settings. Additional guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will target reducing diagnostic testing errors, while new measures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will address sepsis and patient-reported safety outcomes.
The Veterans Health Administration is also committed to enhancing patient fall prevention, while the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will provide training on workplace violence prevention. Outside the government, healthcare organizations like the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association are aligning with the administration’s goals by revising educational competencies and introducing new quality measurement tools. Sixteen major health systems, including CommonSpirit Health and Novant Health, have pledged to support providing zero preventable harm care.
The administration’s push builds on recommendations from the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, which called for stronger partnerships and the adoption of evidence-based harm reduction practices. At a White House forum, healthcare leaders highlighted the importance of cultural changes in reducing harm and the growing recognition that providing high-quality care is critical not only for patient outcomes but also for healthcare organizations’ long-term success.
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