Patient safety, errors and mistakes, and perioperative nursing

Today's world of advancing technology in health care represents complex diagnostic, operational, and administrative processes, all of which must be coordinated to ensure the delivery of safe, quality health care. Nonetheless, the health care industry's implementation and practice of quality measures fall below the standards of other industries, such as aerospace, telecommunications, or information technology. With health care performing at this lower level, it is no wonder that headline grabbers dwell on the deaths that occur as a result of medical errors. A new emphasis on quality management is essential in nursing education and in quality management to improve US health care. This article summarizes recent reports on medical errors and suggests strategies to improve patient safety.