Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has launched the Partnerhips for Patients, a new public–private initiative that aims to reduce preventable harm to patients, hospital readmissions, and health care costs. Review the resources below for more information about patient safety.

State Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations. A Commonwealth Fund-supported Institute for Healthcare Improvement initiative designed to help hospitals improve their processes for transitioning discharged patients to other care settings.

Reducing Hospital Readmissions: Lessons from Top-Performing Hospitals, S. Silow-Carroll, J. N. Edwards, and A. Lashbrook, The Commonwealth Fund, April 2011.

Keeping the Commitment: A Progress Report on Four Early Leaders in Patient Safety Improvement, D. McCarthy and S. Klein, The Commonwealth Fund, March 2011.

"Systematically Seeking Clinicians’ Insights to Identify New Safety Measures for Intensive Care Units and General Surgery Services," R. S. Rogers, P. Pronovost, T. Isaac et al., American Journal of Medical Quality, Sept./Oct. 2010 25(5):359–64.

Starting On the Path to a High Performance Health System: Analysis of the Payment and System Reform Provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, K. Davis, S. Guterman, S. R. Collins, K. Stremikis, S. Rustgi, and R. Nuzum, The Commonwealth Fund, September 2010.

A Call for Standardized Rehospitalization Measures and Information Systems, A. Audet, The Commonwealth Fund Blog, September 2010.

February/March 2010 Quality Matters: A look at how engaging patients can improve health care quality and safety.

April/May 2010 Quality Matters: A conversation with Peter Pronovost about what's holding up progress in improving patient safety; a case study of the VA's teamwork approach to patient safety; and more.

Safe, Reliable Health Care Systems: Will Health Reform Legislation Help Get Us There?, A.-M. Audet and S. Schoenbaum, The Commonwealth Fund Blog, April 2010.

States in Action Jan/Feb 2010: A look at state patient safety initiatives and nonpayment policies for preventable adverse events. Plus, an interview with safety expert Lucian Leape.

Getting to Zero: Strategies to Eliminate Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections, April 14, 2010 Webinar

Transparency and Public Reporting Are Essential for a Safe Health Care System, L. L. Leape, The Commonwealth Fund, March 2010.

Health Care Leader Action Guide to Reduce Avoidable Readmissions, Health Research & Educational Trust, A. Osei-Anto, M. Joshi, A.-M. Audet et al., The Commonwealth Fund, and the John A. Hartford Foundation, January 2010.

Does the Leapfrog Program Help Identify High-Quality Hospitals?, A. K. Jha, E. J. Orav, A. B. Ridgway et al., Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, June 2008 34(6):318-325

July/August 2008 Quality Matters: Are quality improvement strategies subject to regulations for the protection of human research subjects?

"Transparency as a Pillar of a Quality and Safety Culture: The Experience of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation," A-M. J. Audet, R. Raju, C. M. Jacobs et al., Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, December 2008 34(12):707–12.

Patient-Reported Safety and Quality of Care in Outpatient Oncology, S. N. Weingart, J. Price, D. Duncombe et al., Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, February 2007 33(2):83–94.

Health Care Opinion Leaders' Views on the Quality and Safety of Health Care in the United States, The Commonwealth Fund, July 2007.

Who Pays for Medical Errors?: An Analysis of Adverse Event Costs, the Medical Liability System, and Incentives for Patient Safety Improvement, M. M. Mello, D. M. Studdert, E. J. Thomas, et al., Journal of Empirical Legal Studies, December 2007 4(4):835–60.

Committed to Safety: Ten Case Studies on Reducing Harm to Patients, D. McCarthy and D. Blumenthal, The Commonwealth Fund, April 2006 .

Stories from the Sharp End: Case Studies in Safety Improvement, D. McCarthy and D. Blumenthal, Milbank Quarterly, March 2006 84(1):165–200.

"Health Courts" and Accountability for Patient Safety, M. M. Mello, D. M. Studdert, A. B. Kachalia et al., Milbank Quarterly, September 2006 84(3):459–92.

Five Years After To Err Is Human: What Have We Learned? Lucian L. Leape, M.D., Donald M. Berwick, M.D., Journal of the American Medical Association, May 18, 2005, 293 (19): 2384–90.

Advising Patients About Patient Safety: Current Initiatives Risk Shifting Responsibility, Vikki A. Entwistle, M.Sc., Ph.D., Michelle M. Mello, J.D., Ph.D., M.Phil., Troyen A. Brennan, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, September 2005, 31 (9): 483–94.

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