Patient Safety

Health care in the United States is not as safe as it could, or should, be.  States have many opportunities to improve patient safety and safeguard the public; as large purchasers, regulators, conveners, and providers of health care services, they work independently, coordinate with other state agencies, and partner with the private sector.

NASHP has been at the forefront of examining how states prevent, monitor, and respond to patient safety issues since the release of the 1999 Institute of Medicine report calling attention to the serious gaps in patient safety that exist in the U.S. health care system.  NASHP has also represented states in national initiatives to improve patient safety.  NASHP’s patient safety areas of focus have primarily focused on states' roles in addressing patient safety, state adverse event reporting systems, and state patient safety centers and coalitions.

NASHP’s Patient Safety Toolbox, which provides states with tools they can use or modify as they develop or improve adverse event reporting systems, links to other Web resources, and fast facts and issues related to patient safety. The toolbox’s development was funded by The Commonwealth Fund and is available by clicking on the Patient Safety Toolbox link on the right.