Patientensicherheit in der Chirurgie: Was können wir von den US-amerikanischen Standards lernen?

The shocking publication from 1999 by the Institute of Medicine on the prevalence of medical errors and iatrogenic patient death rates has led to significantly improved quality assurance and patient safety protocols in the United States in recent years. Unfortunately, up to date, the innovative US models and current standards of care related to patient safety have not been implemented in most European countries, including Germany. The present paper outlines exemplary “key” aspects of quality improvement strategies in the USA, with a focus on patient safety in surgery. The development and implementation of improved quality assurance protocols in Germany should provide the basis for a new culture of patient-centric care and hopefully lead the next generation of surgeons to embrace and establish an intrinsic patient safety culture.