Patients are increasingly being encouraged to be proactive in ensuring their own safety, and many organizations recommend specific actions that patients should take, such as maintaining a current list of medications or asking providers to wash their hands. However, prior research has shown that many patients are not comfortable assuming an active role in their own safety. This study reveals another problem with encouraging patient involvement—the lack of a standardized set of recommendations. The investigators reviewed recommendations from 26 organizations and found wide variation in the types and utility of suggested patient actions. Development of a unified set of recommendations for patients would likely help providers and patients work together to improve safety.

Full text available, courtesy of Joint Commission Resources.