Communication, Apology and Resolution (CARe)

Improve patient safety, reduce costs and enhance fairness and transparency

CARe is an alternative to costly, lengthy, and emotionally painful lawsuits after a medical injury. Whether or not litigation is involved, it can help patients and families in the aftermath of medical harm events — and advance patient safety as health care organizations learn from these events.

How it works

Health care organizations commit to prompt, empathetic, and transparent communication with patients and families after an adverse event and support for clinicians in disclosing these unexpected outcomes to patients.
Health care organizations investigate the event and try to determine the causes. The goal is to institute new systems or practices to prevent the same thing from happening to other patients.
If the event was preventable, patients and families are offered a sincere apology and financial compensation.

For patients and families

List of FAQs, a directory of attorneys committed to CARe, and additional resources for patients

CARe: For patients and families

For providers

Information about CARe for clinicians and administrators in facilities that have adopted this model

CARe: For providers

For attorneys

Best practices for representing patients using the CARe model

CARe: For Attorneys

Resource library

Comprehensive database of guidelines, tools, research, and other resources

CARe forums

Videos, slides and other materials from annual CARe Forums

CARe Forums

Members

List of advisory board members and participating groups

CARe: Members