Gauging patient safety programs

In response to evidence that adverse medical events are widespread, patient safety programs have emerged and proliferated worldwide in recent years. Patient safety may be considered a new and distinct healthcare discipline. It emphasizes the reporting, analysis, and prevention of medical errors that can lead to adverse healthcare events. While this is a useful generic definition, it takes on different meanings for each healthcare discipline. When patient safety programs were studied, it was found that many are generic and may be inappropriately focused and researched. In planning a patient safety program, the basis of patient safety programs for all disciplines will have similarities. But each discipline will require nuances specific to the discipline since the goals, objectives, and requirements of each are unique. Furthermore, each discipline will have its own preferred outcomes that may change over time as new data become available and service providers become more knowledgeable of ways to increase the likelihood of desired outcomes.