April 22, 2026

Annual report highlights year of progress on the state's Roadmap to Health Care Safety

The Betsy Lehman Center's 2025 Annual Report highlights continued progress on the Roadmap to Health Care Safety for Massachusetts, a first-in-the-nation strategic plan to propel investment, action, and transformative change across the Commonwealth’s health care continuum. The report highlights programs to support safety efforts in provider organizations and new initiatives to improve data collection and transparency.

Read the report

Cambridge Health Alliance partners with PFAC to improve unplanned C‑section care

Cambridge Health Alliance collaborated with its Patient and Family Advisory Council to improve the experience of patients undergoing unplanned C-sections. Interviews and surveys revealed gaps in prenatal education and communication, particularly for non-English-speaking patients. The PFAC’s role was more than advisory, as members partnered with clinical teams to co-design the process and improvements.

Read the story and see the video

Isabel Pinto Franco has been a Medical Interpreter at Cambridge Health Alliance for more than 30 years. She explains that the interpreter’s role goes beyond translation to ensure effective communication between patients and clinicians. She interprets for patients across all units in the hospital, including those having unplanned C-sections.

See the video

Safety news roundup

Malpractice Risks in Communication Failures: A 10-Year Follow Up shows that communication problems were involved in 40% of malpractice cases from 2014–2024, up from 30% in cases from 2009-2013. The report from Candello, a division of CRICO, finds that breakdowns are more common in ambulatory settings (52%) than inpatient environments (41%).

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hosted a public forum on Engaging Patients to Advance Diagnostic Excellence in March. Watch the recording to learn about patient education and shared decision-making, technology and diagnostic innovations, professional communication skills, and assessing the impact of engagement on diagnostic outcomes.

ECRI’s Top 10 Patient Safety Concerns 2026 report identifies the safety issues most likely to put patients at risk, with a strong focus on emerging threats and long‑standing gaps where progress has stalled. This year's number one topic is Navigating the AI Diagnostic Dilemma. Other topics include reduced access to rural health care and the effects of federal funding cuts on patent safety.

Upcoming events

April 28

3 - 4:30 p.m.

Advancing High-Value Pediatric Care: Using Data, AI, and Family Engagement to Improve Outcomes. This AHRQ webinar explores how data, AI, and family engagement tools can improve pediatric outcomes. An expert panel will share practical real-world implementation insights. Register here

May 29

9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

12th Annual Communication, Apology and Resolution (CARe) Forum. The forum will feature presentations, case simulations and more. The in-person event will take place at the Betsy Lehman Center offices in Boston, with additional time for lunch and networking. There is also an option to join online. Register here

June 2

5 - 6:15 p.m.

Patient and Family Advisory Council Spring Forum. This forum centers on PFAC recruitment and attendees will hear lightening-round presentations from local hospitals followed by breakout rooms for discussion. Register here

The Betsy Lehman Center is a Massachusetts state agency that supports providers, patients and policymakers working together to advance the safety and quality of health care.

BetsyLehmanCenterMA.gov