David Bates, Pat Folcarelli and Liz Mort discuss findings from a new and comprehensive assessment of adverse events in 11 Massachusetts hospitals. Modeled on the Harvard Medical Practice Study done more than 30 years ago, the SafeCare study sheds light both on continuing challenges and new opportunities to reduce patient harm. Talking with Patient Safety Beat, the co-authors touch on the need for better use of evidence-based tools, proactive surveillance for adverse events, and more.
A Roadmap to Health Care Safety for Massachusetts will be released next month at a live event hosted by the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum.
 
The Roadmap sets a bold aim, calling for actions to propel big gains in safety across the continuum of care. It was produced by the Massachusetts Healthcare Safety and Quality Consortium, a sustained collaboration of the state’s policymakers, providers, payers, and patient advocates led by the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety. 
 
At the forum, health care leaders will discuss the Roadmap’s five goals and introduce a set of strategies and action steps for achieving them through a phased, multistakeholder approach.  


Home care helps thousands of people across the state maintain independence and stay healthy. Preparing individuals in advance for their first home care visit can help make the experience both positive and safe. A new video from the Betsy Lehman Center, in partnership with the UMass Lowell Safe Home Care Project, offers tips for first-time clients and helps them understand their role in creating a good working relationship with their aide.  
Upcoming events
March 29
10 a.m.
Building a Robust Health Care Workforce in Massachusetts. The Health Policy Commission will release findings from its upcoming report on the impact of COVID-19 on the health care workforce. Learn more
April 12
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
PNQIN Spring 2023 Summit. Join the Perinatal-Neonatal Quality Improvement Network of Massachusetts (PNQIN) for a one-day conference in Norwood, MA, to learn about initiatives to eliminate racial and ethnic inequities in maternal and neonatal outcomes. Register here
April 26
8 - 11:30 a.m.
The Massachusetts Health Policy Forum at Brandeis University and the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety. A strategic plan to coordinate and accelerate improvement in patient safety — the Roadmap to Health Care Safety for Massachusetts — will be presented and discussed at the Omni Parker House in Boston. Register here
June 2
10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Save the date: Communication, Apology, and Resolution (CARe) Forum 2023. The annual forum will include testimonials, case study simulations, and group discussions about best practices for communication and resolution programs. Registration to attend in Boston or online will be available in April.
Patient Safety Beat is published by the Betsy Lehman Center, a Massachusetts state agency that supports providers, patients and policymakers working together to advance the safety and quality of health care.