This year marked the 30th anniversary of Betsy Lehman’s sudden death from a series of errors during treatment for breast cancer. Her death sparked a movement to address the systemic risks that lead to serious patient harm. In Massachusetts, as elsewhere, progress has been slower than expected and needed.
The Betsy Lehman Center's annual report offers an overview of safety outcomes and trends for 2024 to the extent we know them. It also recommends steps the Commonwealth can take right now to propel actions on the Roadmap to Health Care Safety for Massachusetts.
Because the actions known to improve safety also will accelerate progress on cost, capacity, workforce, and equity, elevating safety on the policy agenda and investing in new approaches prescribed by the Roadmap will strengthen the entire health care system.
