Patient Safety Beat: State House safety forum, Betsy Lehman Center annual report and more

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

State House forum highlights safety agenda

Representative John J. Lawn, Jr., and Senator Cindy F. Friedman co-sponsored a State House forum that featured an overview of the Betsy Lehman Center’s annual report and discussion with health care leaders from Massachusetts. Barbara Fain, Executive Director of the Center, noted that 30 years after Betsy Lehman’s death due to medical error, rates of patient harm remain high. She also described the “ripple effects” of harm, which strain the system’s capacity, increase costs, and contribute to inequities in care.

Dr. Abha Agrawal, CEO and President of Lawrence General Hospital; Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, Undersecretary of Health at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services; and Isabelle Lopes, Vice President of Health Equity at the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, talked about their safety-related work during a panel moderated by patient advocate and Betsy Lehman Center adviser Tobie Atlas.

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Betsy Lehman Center annual report focuses on investment in safety

The Betsy Lehman Center submitted a solutions-oriented annual report to the governor and legislature in January, underscoring the need for more comprehensive information and coordinated action on safety to drive down the incidence of preventable harm to patients.

The report frames the current state of safety progress and emphasizes the need for more information and coordination to accelerate progress on safety, while contributing to a stronger health care system for patients in Massachusetts.

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'It only took love to turn my mother into a patient advocate'

Dr. Abha Agrawal shares the story of how her mother’s advocacy likely saved her father from a serious medication error during a recent hospitalization.

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Upcoming events

Mar. 3

12 - 1 p.m.

Bite-sized well-being during uncertain times: Evidence, practice and resources to share. In this webinar, J. Bryan Sexton, Ph.D., Director of the Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science, will demonstrate how evidence-based interventions can improve well-being for all who care for patients. Register here

Mar. 10 - 11

IHI Patient Safety Congress. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement kicks off Patient Safety Awareness Week with the Patient Safety Congress in San Diego, California. Health care professionals from across the full spectrum of patient care will discuss and learn how to make care safer and more equitable for all. Register here

Mar. 12

11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

The ROI of safety and equity: Transforming care while driving value. Tejal Gandhi, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Safety Officer at Press Ganey, and Mike Seim, M.D., Chief Quality Officer at Wellspan, will highlight real-world strategies to successfully integrate safety and equity initiatives into your operations. Register here

Apr. 11

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

Save the date for the 2025 CARe Forum. With simulations, a keynote and panel discussions, for anyone involved in CARe programs or interested in learning more. Attend in Boston or virtually. Registration opens soon. Learn more about CARe

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