title: Patient safety. Remember who it's really for.
abstract: Patients appear in the patient safety agenda in three important places: first and foremost as the individual most likely to experience the positive benefits of good care or negative consequences of unsafe care; second, as surveyors of quality of care indicators; and finally, through their presence as patient representatives on institutional safety committees. However, patient safety programs largely address provider-interests, and many times overlook patient preferences and needs. Active engagement of the patient in all aspects of the patient safety agenda is necessary for its success. Patient safety, then, requires: a comprehensive agenda informed by patient preferences and experiences; an informed and motivated populace; mechanisms integrate safe practices and patient preferences, and investment in safety-enhancing devices and care strategies.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. pbrennan@engr.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Patricia Flatley
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Safran
mesh_terms: D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards*; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012449:Safety; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*