Patient Safety

In many countries, during the last decade there has been a growing public realization that health care organizations, are often dangerous places to be. Reports published in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the USA, have served to focus public and policy attention, on the safety of patients and to highlight the alarmingly high incidence of errors, and adverse events that lead to some kind of harm or injury. This book presents a research-based perspective on patient safety, drawing together the most recent ideas and thinking from researchers, on how to research and understand patient safety issues, and how research findings are used to shape policy and practice. The book examines key issues, including: analysis and measurement of patient safety; approaches to improving patient safety; future policy and practice regarding patient safety; and the legal dimensions of patient safety. Patient Safety is essential reading for researchers, policy makers and practitioners involved in, or interested in, patient safety. on health policy and health management programmes that focus upon health care quality, risk management and patient safety. The contributors include: Brenda Ashcroft; Tony Avery; Maureen Baker; Paul Beatty; Ruth Boaden; Judith Cantrill; Tanya Claridge, Gary Cooke; Sue Dovey; Kathryn Ehrich; Max Elstein; Aneez Esmail; Rachel Finn; Martin Fletcher; Sally Giles; John Hickner; Amanda Howe; Charlotte Humphrey; Gillian Hundt; Michael Jones; Sue Kirk; Rebecca Lawton; Susanne Lindqvist; Martin Marshall; Ruth McDonald; Dianne Parker; Shirley Pearce; Bob Phillips; Steve Rogers; John Sandars; Donald Singer; Richard Thomson; Margaret Thorogood; Charles Vincent; Justin Waring; Heather Waterman; Alison Watkin; Fiona Watts; and Kieran Walshe.