Pennsylvania's Patient Safety Authority

The objective of this article is to improve patient safety by examining the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, which monitors a statewide reporting system for medical errors and issues statewide advisories suggesting methods for reducing the types of medical errors identified on the basis of the analysis of data reported. First, the article explores the foundation for the Patient Safety Authority and discusses how it reflects many of the recommendations by the Institute of Medicine in To Err Is Human. Second, the article examines the legislation that established the Patient Safety Authority. Third, it examines the development and benefits of the Patient Safety Authority worth emulating. Fourth, the article identifies some of the weaknesses of the Patient Safety Authority. Last, the article concludes that the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority exemplifies a major step forward on a long and difficult path toward patient safety.