"Current patient safety efforts largely focus on hospital settings. As we launch the inaugural World Patient Safety Day on September 17th, we must speak up to intensify efforts to keep patients safe in outpatient settings. Four out of 10 patients are harmed in primary and ambulatory care, most frequently through diagnostic and medication errors. Most of these errors are avoidable. Better information systems, effectively involving patients in their care, and enhancing care coordination are key to realizing sustainable and significant improvements in patient safety in primary and ambulatory care settings".

Ulfat Shaikh, MD, MPH, MS

Professor of Pediatrics and Director for Healthcare Quality

University of California Davis School of Medicine