Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Most data concerning errors and accidents are from industrial accidents and airline injuries. General Electric, Alcoa, and Motorola, among others, all have reported complex programs that resulted in a marked reduction in frequency of worker injuries. In the field of medicine, however, with the outstanding exception of anesthesiology, there is a paucity of information, most reports referring to the 1984 Harvard-New York State Study, more than 16 years ago. ⋯ Significant system changes will require broad staff participation throughout the hospital. This, in turn, should foster development of an institutional safety culture, rather than the popular attitude that patient safety responsibility is concentrated in the Quality Assurance-Risk Management division. Quality of service and patient safety are closely intertwined.