National Patient Safety Foundation

The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) was an independent not-for-profit organization created in 1997 to advance the safety of health care workers and patients, and disseminate strategies to prevent harm.[1][2] In May 2017, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)[3] and NPSF began working together as one organization.[4]

National Patient Safety Foundation
Merged intoInstitute for Healthcare Improvement
Founded1997 (1997)
DissolvedMay 2017; 7 years ago (2017-05)
FocusPatient safety, quality, health care
Location
MethodEducation, outreach, research
Websitehttp://www.ihi.org/patientsafety

History

edit

The National Patient Safety Foundation began as an idea proposed in 1996 at a large conference on medical error that was organized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Medical Association (AMA), and the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower Medical Center in California and funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. At that meeting, representatives of the AMA announced plans to form a foundation that would be "a collaborative initiative involving all members of the healthcare community aimed at stimulating leadership, fostering awareness, and enhancing patient safety knowledge creation, dissemination and implementation."[citation needed]

Among the foundation's early activities was a survey of public opinion of patient safety issues. The survey, conducted by Louis Harris & Associates (2000) revealed that more than 4 out of 5 respondents (84%) had heard about a situation where a medical mistake had been made. More than one-third of respondents (42%) had been involved, either personally or through a friend or relative, in a situation where a medical error was made.[5]

In 2007, NPSF formed the Lucian Leape Institute, a think tank named for Dr. Lucian Leape.[6]

Education and professional development

edit

Educating health professionals about patient safety best practices is a key area of focus for NPSF. Since the annual NPSF Patient Safety Congress has brought together health leaders, patient safety professionals, and patient advocates. In recent years, the meeting has touched on some of the most pressing concerns in health care, such as the move toward patient satisfaction as a measure of quality,[7] engaging patients and families in their care,[8] and the use of simulation to teach and promote safe practices.[9][10][11]

Another of the foundation's areas of focus is elevating patient safety as a medical discipline and a career path for medical professionals.[12] The American Society of Professionals in Patient Safety, which was formed in January 2011, was introduced as the first such organization for individuals (as opposed to organizations).[13]

NPSF was involved in creating the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety.[1][14] Established in 2012, the CBPPS is an independent body charged with developing and overseeing a credentialing exam for the patient safety field.[15]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "National Patient Safety Foundation". PSNet Patient Safety Network. US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). 7 March 2005. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  2. ^ Cooper, Jeffrey B.; Gaba, David M.; Liang, Bryann; Woods, David; Blum, Laura N. (12 July 2000). "The National Patient Safety Foundation Agenda for Research and Development in Patient Safety". Medscape. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Improving Health and Health Care Worldwide | IHI - Institute for Healthcare Improvement". www.ihi.org.
  4. ^ "National Patient Safety Foundation and Institute for Healthcare Improvement to merge in May". Modern Healthcare. 2017-03-10. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  5. ^ Louis Harris & Associates (September 1997). "Public Opinion of Patient Safety Issues" (PDF).
  6. ^ "IHI/NPSF Lucian Leape Institute". PSNet Patient Safety Network. US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). 12 July 2017. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  7. ^ Bush, Haydn (25 May 2012). "How Important is Patient Satisfaction?". Hospitals & Health Networks.
  8. ^ Bush, Haydn (24 May 2012). "A Checklist That's Just for Patients". Hospitals & Health Networks.
  9. ^ Santamour, Bill (16 August 2011). "How to Fundamentally Improve Performance (Without Harming Patients)". Hospitals & Health Networks.
  10. ^ "Being a Patient Is Still Hazardous to Your Health". Medscape. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  11. ^ "National Patient Safety Foundation releases new guidelines for investigating medical errors". FierceHealthcare. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
  12. ^ Sheridan, Terry (23 August 2012). "Safety Specialists: A New Career for Experienced Nurses". Health Callings: Jobs That Matter.
  13. ^ Gibbons, Michael. "Safety First: The Work of Patient Safety". Advance for Nurses.
  14. ^ Frank, Karen (1 June 2016). "Becoming a Certified Professional in Patient Safety—A Registered Nurse's Perspective". PSNet Patient Safety Network. US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  15. ^ "About Certification". Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety.
edit