Mission Statement
To develop a collaborative strategy to improve patient safety and health outcomes in Iowa.
Description
The publishing of several groundbreaking reports from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) sparked concerns about the safety of the American health care system. To Err is Human (1999), and the resulting media focus, have brought patient safety to the attention of consumers, health professionals, policymakers, insurers, and researchers. Organizations at the local, state, and national levels are developing policies and implementing strategies to improve patient safety. To Err is Human advocated a systems approach to improving patient safety. Its companion report, Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), emphasized that the "non-system" in which patients are seen by multiple providers, in multiple settings, and where no one has complete information, affects both the safety and quality of health care. Many types of "process errors" have been attributed to this lack of coordination among providers in multiple settings, including medication errors, administrative mistakes, treatment delivery problems, and miscommunication.
The goal of the IDPH Patient Safety Program is to develop a collaborative strategy to improve patient safety and health outcomes in Iowa. To this end, we must:
- Focus on improving patient safety system-wide.
- Develop best practices based on the best evidence.
- Create a collaborative environment that fosters respect and trust, and where each team member is valued.
- Create a learning environment that nurtures information sharing, is non-punitive, and relies on evidence to generate innovations.
- Engage stakeholders to ensure a long-term commitment on a statewide basis.
- Involve consumers in the education, decision-making, planning, implementation, and evaluation process to improve patient safety.
- Develop a strategy that addresses the legal issues surrounding the rights and responsibilities of health care providers and patients.
- Assure confidentiality of data for all stakeholders.
Patient Safety Advisory Committee
The Patient Safety Advisory Committee serves the following roles and functions:
- Provide guidance on project strategies
- Serve as a communication link between program staff and constituents
- Identify and collaborate in future research and intervention strategies
- Support ongoing efforts to obtain program funding
