The goal of this program is to explore approaches to prevent medical errors that are both system-based and human performance-based and The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals as they pertain to medical errors in hospitals. After you study the information presented here, you will be able to —

•  Examine sources and types of medical errors.
•  Identify error-prone situations.
• Relate theories and strategies to reduce the occurrence of errors and improve patient outcomes.
• Define sentinel event, root cause analysis, and failure mode, effects, and criticality analysis.
• Discuss safety needs of special populations.
• Describe the impact of medical errors on healthcare providers.
• Discuss the importance of public education in reducing errors.