Can communication-and-resolution programs achieve their potential? Five key questions.

Gallagher TH, Mello MM, Sage WM, Bell SK, McDonald TB, Thomas EJ. Health Aff (Millwood). 2018;37:1845-1852.

Communication-and-resolution programs are designed to build healing relationships, offer appropriate compensation, and facilitate organizational learning after a harmful medical error. Although some success has been achieved, communication-and-resolution programs have yet to be widely implemented across the health system. This commentary discusses policy, safety outcome evidence, monetary, and program design weaknesses as prominent barriers to wide-scale implementation. The authors recommend aligning the programs to foundational concepts of safety and patient-centeredness to help drive progress.

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