Your Patient Safety Survival Guide

Medical errors happen all the time. Yet, it’s not enough to rely on the health care system itself to remedy the problems. Patients must be aware of the risks and involved in the solutions. Here, the author looks at the most common risks, offers solutions patients can employ, and considers approaches to solving problems where they exist.

Gretchen LeFever Watson, PhD, is a clinical psychologist whose research and intervention projects have received international scholarly and media attention, including appearances on TV and radio programs such as CNN Headline News, the PBS News Hour, and The Diane Rehm Show. Watson was among the first to document drug overtreatment for ADHD in the U.S. and to demonstrate that disruptive conduct can be successfully reduced through schoolwide behavioral interventions. Following positions as a hospital psychologist, medical school faculty member, and university professor, Watson served as Director of Patient Safety and Performance Excellence for a large healthcare system. Currently, she is president of Safety & Leadership Solutions, a consulting firm for organizational safety and change management.