Safety means freedom from accidental injury. By patient safety we mean avoiding, preventing, and reducing adverse outcomes or injuries resulting from the processes of health care. Patient safety requires well-designed processes to prevent adverse patient outcomes that may occur as a result of testing or treatment, including lack of appropriate testing and treatment.
The AAFP Developmental Center for Research and Evaluation in Patient Safety – Primary Care (AAFP DCERPS-PC) will improve the safety and quality of medical care in family medicine and other primary care office settings through research, education, and dissemination. There is little existing data to evaluate the impact of medical errors and patient safety in family physician offices, where most medical care is provided. We plan to focus on patient safety research within physician offices, as well as design and test new interventions for reducing errors and improving patient safety for family physicians and their patients.
For additional information about the center, please contact:
Debbie Graham, MSPH
Project Director, DCERPS-PC
American Academy of Family Physicians
11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway
Leawood, KS 66211-2672
Phone: (800) 274-2237, Ext. 3176
Fax: (913) 906-6099 (Attention: Debbie Graham)
E-mail: dgraham@aafp.org
Developmental Center for Research and Evaluation in Patient Safety – Primary Care
