Children are vulnerable to medical errors in both inpatient and outpatient settings. This survey of parents of hospitalized children found that nearly two-thirds felt personally responsible for ensuring their child received safe care. This need was felt most strongly by parents with limited English skills, and in fact, prior research has found that language barriers are an independent risk factor for preventable adverse events. The tragic loss of her daughter due to a preventable error led Sorrel King to found the Josie King Foundation, a leading supporter of pediatric patient safety efforts.

In this AHRQ-funded study, the researchers found that decision support improved prescribing behavior in accordance with the evidence for common pediatric outpatient conditions.