Human factors influence how humans and systems interact to make processes more reliable or more error-prone during both normal and unexpected circumstances. This guideline provides recommendations centered on elements of communication, the organization, the work environment, and training to guide the consideration of human factors in improvement actions during critical anesthesia or intensive care situations.

Fentanyl is a high-risk medication, whether prescribed by a health professional or obtained illicitly. This patient safety advisory encourages healthcare providers to educate their patients on the risks of counterfeit fentanyl.

Opioid misuse is an urgent patient safety issue, including postsurgical opioid misuse among pediatric patients. Based on the systematic review, a multidisciplinary group of health care and opioid stewardship experts proposes evidence-based opioid prescribing guidelines for children who need surgery. Endorsed guideline statements highlight three primary themes for perioperative pain management in children: (1) health care professionals must recognize the risks of pediatric opioid misuse, (2) use non-opioid pain relief, and (3) pre- and post-operative education for patients and families regarding pain management and safe opioid use.

This policy statement provides context regarding medical errors in pediatric emergency care and offers recommendations to support patient safety improvements in this setting.