title: Scope of problem and history of patient safety.
abstract: Creating a safe environment in our incredibly complex health care system requires a major culture change. While it may be frustratingly slow and halting, that change is occurring and beginning to show results. This article addresses the issue of patient safety, discussing its history, and organizations and practices that are helping to make it more of a reality in today's health care environment.
authors.affiliation: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. leape@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Lucian L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Leape
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015969:National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, U.S., Health and Medicine Division; D009774:Obstetrics; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States