Abstract
Patient safety is at the heart of high quality health care. Without it, clinicians’ best efforts and most advanced skills may be ineffective. In addition, the complexity of the health care and the human tendency for error can make achieving patient safety an ongoing challenge. Furthermore, the patient is a major stakeholder in the health care encounter influenced by diverse factors. Health care is not as safe as it should be. It is estimated that 250,000 people die annually in the United States because of medical errors, making medical errors the third leading cause of preventable death.1 According to a 2017 survey of more than 2500 adults, 21% reported that they personally experienced a medical error. When errors occurred, they had lasting impact on the patients’ physical health, emotional health, financial wellbeing, or family relationships.2 Reports with estimates of death caused by medical error are somewhat controversial. Regardless, a serious medical error can have devastating impact on a family, causing a lifetime of emotional pain. This article will highlight the patient’s role in patient safety and share recommendations on how clinicians can partner with patients.