AHRQ: Network of Patient Safety Databases

Summary

The US Department of Health & Human Services was directed in the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 to create and maintain a Network of Patient Safety Databases (NPSD) to provide an interactive, evidence-based management resource for healthcare providers, Patient Safety Organisations (PSOs) listed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and others. AHRQ, the lead agency for patient safety in the USA implements the NPSD.

Initially, the NPSD contains non-identifiable data derived from patient safety work product submitted by PSOs from across the country. This rich data source makes it possible to identify and track patient safety concerns for the purpose of learning how to mitigate patient safety risks and reduce harm across healthcare settings nationally.