The safety of inpatient pediatrics: preventing medical errors and injuries among hospitalized children.
This article explores the current state of knowledge about the safety of hospitalized patients in general and patients in pediatric settings in particular. It discusses approaches to evaluating patient safety and reviews the current literature on adverse events and errors in hospitals. The article also discusses strategies proven effective in reducing medical errors and some of the barriers to implementing these strategies that must be overcome.
Landrigan
Christopher P
CP
Inpatient Pediatrics Service, Children's Hospital Boston, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. christopher.landrigan@childrens.harvard.edu
D002648:Child; D002673:Child, Hospitalized; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*