ABSTRACT
In 1999, the Institute of Medicine released a report estimating that between 44,000 and 98,000 deaths occur in American hospitals each year due to medical errors. Errors which do not result in death may result in injury or a prolonged stay with increased costs to the individual, to the hospital and the community. This chapter reviews the nature of patient safety culture (PSC), how healthcare organisations can develop a stronger PSC and how a strong PSC can help reduce adverse events such as injuries or death. It discusses the role of error management in achieving this outcome. This involves being open to errors and attempting to learn from them. The chapter considers links between PSC and other areas of research and other industries with strong positive safety cultures. It also discusses the role played by leaders in creating a PSC.
