Dear Colleagues:

Efforts at ensuring patient safety have evolved sporadically over the last decade at hospitals throughout the nation, but one fact has remained true and consistent. BWH has developed and maintained a well-earned reputation as being at the forefront of this essential quest for providing safe care.

Through research, training and patient care initiatives, BWH has charted new territory in this enormously important area of health care. We have chronicled the incident rates of medical errors, simulated environments in which care can be compromised and implemented improvements in addressing these areas.

At the heart of each of these initiatives is the development of a culture that places emphasis on learning rather than blame. While we continue to seek out innovative approaches to error prevention such as patient safety rounds, enhanced reporting mechanisms and computer entry programs, we cannot be content to be satisfied with our results.

I invite you to join BWH President Gary Gottlieb, MD, MBA at the next hospital Town Meeting on October 23 at 11 a.m. in the Bornstein Family Amphitheater as we discuss these pivotal issues. Through the dedicated work of leading physicians and researchers at BWH we can continue to impact the manner in which we deliver care. We can reinforce the importance of honest interaction with patients. We can implement programs and technology to reduce the likelihood of errors in the future. I am confident that the stage has been set for a future where safe care will be the central focus of our roles as physicians and researchers.

Sincerely,

Andy Whittemore, MD
Chief Medical Officer