title: Use of a comprehensive patient safety tool in primary care practices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present a tool that can be used to evaluate patient safety in both nurse-led and physician-led practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes our experience with the Physician Practice Patient Safety Assessment (PPPSA) tool in six safety net practices-three of which were primary care nurse-managed health centers and three were physician-led federally qualified health centers. The information provided is from the tool itself and how it might be used in clinical settings, especially primary care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PPPSA is a tool to measure the extent to which patient safety practices are rigorously and systematically implemented throughout a health center. The tool's methodology requires discussion and consensus, incorporating a team approach with multiple perspectives within a center. It is designed to promote changes in practices that would improve patient safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tool has enormous relevance for primary care settings, especially those preparing themselves for patient-centered medical home status and meaningful use. But most important, it has relevance as we create healthcare environments that promote patient safety and a practice culture that is truly patient centered.
authors.affiliation: (Professor), Emerita, The University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Formerly Senior Research Scientist), Medical Group Management Association, Englewood, Colorado (Associate Professor), School of Public Health, School of Information, and School of Nursing, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Chief Executive Officer), Alliance of Chicago Community Health Services, Chicago, Illinois (Senior Fellow Industry Affairs), MGMA-ACMPE, Englewood, Colorado (Program Director), Center for Data Management and Translational Research, Michigan Public Health Institute, Okemos, Michigan.
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Radhika
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nath
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rachman
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Gans
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tanner
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000458:organization & administration; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care; D064876:Safety-net Providers
keywords: Safety; measurement; primary care; work environments