What You Should Know

Lifespan Patient Safety Symposium This annual event brings together clinicians, executives and policy makers to discuss advances in patient safety initiatives and the future of patient-centered health care. Get the details

• Your responsibilities as a patient
• Your rights as a patient
• How to be your own advocate for quality care
• Our patient privacy policy

National Initiatives

• Speak Up Campaign

Get More Information about Patient Safety

• Agency for health care Research and Quality (AHRQ)
  The Agency for health care Research and Quality (AHRQ) is the health services research arm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), complementing the biomedical research mission of its sister agency, the National Institutes of Health. AHRQ is a home to research centers that specialize in major areas of health care research such as quality improvement and patient safety, outcomes and effectiveness of care, clinical practice and technology assessment, and health care organization and delivery systems.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  The CDC is one of the major operating components of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability.
• Hospital Compare (HHS - U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)
  Hospital Compare has quality measures on how often hospitals provide some of the recommended care to get the best results for most patients. Quality information is provided on hospitals treating adult patients for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, or having surgery.
• Institute for health care Improvement (IHI)
  The Institute for health care Improvement (IHI) is a non-for-profit organization that seeks to lead the improvement of health care throughout the world. IHI was founded in 1991 and is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. IHI's work is funded primarily through its own fee-based program offerings and services, and through the support of foundations, companies, and individuals.
• Institute for Safe Medicine Practices (ISMP)
  The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), based in suburban Philadelphia, is the nation's only 501c (3) nonprofit organization devoted entirely to medication error prevention and safe medication use.
• Institute of Medicine (IOM)
  The Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies of Sciences provides science-based advice on matters of biomedical science, medicine, and health. It is a non-profit organization working outside the framework of government to ensure scientifically informed analysis and independent guidance. The IOM's mission is to serve as adviser to the nation to improve health. The Institute provides unbiased, evidence-based, and authoritative information and advice concerning health and science policy to policy-makers, professionals, leaders in every sector of society, and the public at large.
• Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO)
  The Joint Commission is an independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits nearly 15,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. The organization sets standards that focus on improving the quality and safety of care provided by health care organizations. The Joint Commission's comprehensive accreditation process evaluates an organization's compliance with these standards and other accreditation requirements. To earn and maintain The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval™, an organization must undergo an on-site survey by a Joint Commission survey team at least every three years. (Laboratories must be surveyed every two years.)
• National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF)
  The National Patient Safety Foundation is an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has is focused on improving the safety of patients.