AHRQ’s PSNet Offers Primer on Understanding a Systems Approach to Medical Errors

Most errors are the result of poorly designed systems rather than individual failings that reflect inadequate knowledge or skill, according to a primer available on AHRQ’s Patient Safety Network (PSNet). The primer provides background on systems approach theory and relevant, research-based information to help health care providers apply this thinking to health care so they can identify situations or factors likely to give rise to human error. It also introduces methods that can be used to change the underlying systems of care to reduce the occurrence of errors and minimize their impact on patients. Select to access the full patient safety primer, titled “Systems Approach.”