National Patient Safety Foundation

National Patient Safety Foundation

The National Patient Safety Foundation was an American nonprofit organization established to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors in United States healthcare. Founded in 1997 after attention from reports such as the To Err Is Human study and policy actions related to the Institute of Medicine and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the foundation promoted patient safety culture through education, research, and advocacy until its 2017 integration with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. The organization worked alongside entities such as the Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Medical Association, and American Nurses Association.

History

The foundation was created in the aftermath of high-profile analyses including the To Err Is Human report and responses from the Institute of Medicine and the Department of Health and Human Services. Early allies included the American Hospital Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, and the group convened stakeholders from Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, and academic centers such as Harvard Medical School, Stanford University School of Medicine, and University of Pennsylvania Health System. Over two decades the foundation developed programs influenced by frameworks from the National Quality Forum and standards from the International Organization for Standardization. Leadership connected with figures from Donald Berwick-era Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services initiatives, and collaborated on initiatives resonant with Patient Safety Movement Foundation campaigns. In 2017 the organization merged into the Institute for Healthcare Improvement following deliberations with boards that included representatives from American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, and Association of American Medical Colleges.

Mission and Programs

The foundation’s mission aligned with priorities espoused by World Health Organization patient safety programs, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Institutes of Health in promoting evidence-based interventions to prevent harm. Signature programs targeted clinical teams at institutions such as Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Seattle Children's Hospital, and UCLA Health, and incorporated principles from Crew Resource Management and models used by NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration. Educational offerings included conferences drawing speakers from Institute for Healthcare Improvement, American College of Surgeons, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. The foundation advanced initiatives like safe surgery checklists echoing the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist and endorsed practices similar to those promoted by the National Patient Safety Agency and Health Foundation (UK).

Publications and Research

The foundation published guidance, white papers, and toolkits informed by collaborations with researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and University of Michigan School of Public Health. Its content paralleled scholarship found in journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, BMJ, Health Affairs, and Annals of Internal Medicine. Notable reports synthesized evidence related to surgical safety, medication reconciliation, diagnostic error, and handoff communication, citing methodologies from institutions like RAND Corporation and Kaiser Permanente research centers. The foundation also produced case studies reflecting practices at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Stanford Health Care.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The organization formed partnerships with regulatory and professional bodies including the Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, National League for Nursing, Council of Medical Specialty Societies, and National Association of County and City Health Officials. International cooperation involved entities like the World Health Organization, Health Quality & Safety Commission (New Zealand), and Canadian Patient Safety Institute. The foundation worked with advocacy groups such as Consumers Union, Leapfrog Group, and SafeCare Campaign, and collaborated on workforce development with Association of American Medical Colleges, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and specialty societies including the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

Impact and Legacy

Through conferences, guidance, and partnerships, the foundation influenced policy dialogs at the Department of Health and Human Services and contributed to practices adopted by systems like Kaiser Permanente, Veterans Health Administration, and academic medical centers including Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. Its integration into the Institute for Healthcare Improvement preserved programs and resources that continued to inform patient safety curricula used by medical schools and nursing schools and quality initiatives recognized by the National Quality Forum. The foundation’s legacy endures in ongoing campaigns addressing medication safety, surgical checklists, diagnostic accuracy, and care transitions, reflected in continuing work by organizations such as Institute for Healthcare Improvement, American Hospital Association, and The Joint Commission.

Category:Patient safety Category:Healthcare quality Category:Medical and health foundations in the United States