4 Steps Needed to Improve Patient Safety on a National Level Per PCAST

The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) recently released a report, addressing the pressing issue of patient safety enhancement nationwide. The report presents key recommendations aimed at rectifying this concern, including the establishment of federal leadership positions dedicated to advancing patient safety and expediting research on safe care systems. Emphasizing patient safety as an "urgent national public health issue," the report underlines alarming statistics indicating that one in four Medicare patients experiences adverse events during hospitalization, with 40% of these events stemming from preventable errors. To address this, PCAST suggests creating a "Patient Safety Coordinator" role within the White House. This coordinator would oversee federal-level patient safety improvement initiatives and maintain regular communication with key departments, including HHS, Defense, Justice, and the VA, to monitor progress and assess the impact of patient safety efforts. In summary, PCAST's report underscores the imperative nature of addressing patient safety and offers strategic recommendations for federal leadership and coordination to achieve substantial improvements.