PCAST Releases Report on Transforming Patient Safety

Today, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a report with recommendations to advance the nation’s commitment to supporting robust safety solutions for patients and the health care workforce.

Doctors, nurses, and other health care staff are passionate, dedicated professionals who care deeply for the patients in their care. Nonetheless, approximately one in four Americans experience adverse outcomes during hospitalization. A significant portion of these outcomes are preventable. The recommendations in PCAST’s report would develop a national enterprise to accelerate the research, development, and deployment of policies and technologies that will improve patient safety in the United States.

Today’s report complements the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to equitably protect and expand Americans’ access to quality health care. Last year, the Administration launched the National Action Alliance to Advance Patient Safety to build partnerships between federal agencies and private health care systems, professionals, caregivers, and advocates. In April, the President signed an Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers. This summer, the Administration announced $100 million to grow the nursing workforce and set a minimum level of staff in nursing homes, in addition to a slate of related actions, to protect patient safety and support nursing home residents and workers.

PCAST’s recommendations include:

• Establishing and maintaining federal leadership for the improvement of patient safety as a national priority.

• Ensuring that patients across the country benefit from evidence-based practices for preventing harm and addressing risks.

• Partnering with patients to reduce disparities in medical errors and adverse outcomes.

• Accelerating research and deployment of practices, technologies, and exemplar systems of safe care.

To view a full copy of the PCAST report, please click here.

To view PCAST’s Letter to the President and the Executive Summary of the report, please click here.

PCAST is the sole body of advisors from outside the federal government charged with making science, technology, and innovation policy recommendations to the President. Learn more about their work here.