When Healthcare Systems Go Dark: Why Digital Outage Preparedness Is a Patient Safety Imperative

Healthcare delivery today depends heavily on digital systems. Electronic health records (EHRs), networked medical devices, clinical decision support tools, and communication platforms are deeply em...

Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2026 Executive Brief

ECRI’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2026 report focuses on health technology risks that warrant the greatest level of attention and describes actionable approaches that providers can use to...

Building a Better Guideline: How TRUST Standards Strengthen Clinical Confidence

Clinical practice guidelines shape care decisions throughout healthcare — from primary care to specialty clinics, from procedural suites to intensive care units. When these guidelines are developed...

Implement High-Leverage and Layered Risk-Reduction Strategies Using ISMP’s Hierarchy of Effectiveness

Healthcare is a complex and multifaceted field where some level of risk is ever-present. The groundbreaking 1999 Institute of Medicine report, "To Err is Human," rocked the world by estimating that...

Leveraging ECRI’s Top 10 Health Technology Hazards Report: A Strategic Imperative for Healthcare in 2026

In today’s healthcare landscape, technology can be both a powerful enabler and a potential source of risk. As new innovations—from artificial intelligence (AI) to the expanding use of medical devic...

Joint Hazard Alert! Action Needed to Address Incorrect Information on the Broselow Rainbow Tape

revised January 22, 2026 Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP)Pediatric Pharmacy Association (PPA) The Broselow Rainbow Tape is a height...

Rethinking Healthcare Safety: Differentiating from Other High-Risk Industries

Much of healthcare has yet to realize the benefits of applying human factors engineering (HFE), in part because HFE solutions developed for other high-risk industries have been applied without appr...

Incident Identification and Notifications in Aging Services: A Systems Thinking Approach

Strengthening incident management in aging services starts long before an investigation begins. Yet, many organizations overlook the crucial first steps—prompt identification, immediate care, accur...

Multi-Chamber Bag Parenteral Nutrition Consensus Statements

This document presents consensus statements developed by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) regarding the use o...

Seeing the Whole System: Why Fall Reporting in Nursing Homes Requires a Systems Thinking Approach

Underreporting falls in nursing homes skews safety data, misleads families, and endangers residents. Learn how applying a systems thinking approach can rebuild trust and improve resident safety.

Advancing Rural Healthcare: Practical Strategies for Long-Term Sustainability

Rural healthcare providers play a vital role in keeping communities healthy, often serving as the only point of access for miles. Yet these organizations face some of the steepest challenges in the...

Improving Rural Healthcare Systems for Safer, Stronger Performance

Rural healthcare providers have always served as the backbone of their communities, often delivering essential care with limited resources and considerable financial strain. Today, those challenges...

Honoring Veterans Through Compassionate Care

Every November 11, our nation pauses to honor the courage and sacrifice of those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Veterans Day is a time for gratitude — for the freedoms we enjoy, the resilienc...

Challenges Facing Rural Healthcare in the Current Policy Landscape

Rural healthcare in the United States has long faced structural vulnerabilities. Smaller populations, limited resources, and greater reliance on public insurance programs (e.g., Medicaid) mean that...

All Voices for Safer Care

Each October, Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW) brings together healthcare professionals and organizations across Canada to focus on what truly matters—making care safer for all.

Patient Safety: A Moral Imperative and Smart Business Strategy

White Paper from ECRI’s C-Suite Roundtables Despite decades of effort and the best intentions of leaders across the country, preventable patient harm remains a tragic, persistent and costly challen...

Safeguard Pediatric Patients—Act Upon the 2025 KIDs List

PROBLEM: Pediatric patients are vulnerable to higher rates of adverse drug events for a variety of reasons, including frequent off-label drug usage, individualized dose calculations, and age-relate...

Warning! Overwrap Labeled Potassium Chloride 10 mEq/ 100 mL May Contain Potassium Chloride 20 mEq/ 50 mL Premixed IV Bag

A prescriber ordered a potassium chloride 10 mEq/100 mL infusion for a patient with a peripheral intravenous (IV) line. The nurse removed a bag from the automated dispensing cabinet (ADC) labeled p...

Take Action on the Top Five Themes Identified During ISMP Consultations

Seeking expertise from external sources and learning about errors that have occurred in other hospitals prompts the evaluation of similar risks within your own organization that may otherwise be hi...

Think Like a Human Factors Engineer: Five Principles for Healthcare Leaders

The strongest safety improvements begin with better questions. Here are five principles that can reshape how you lead change. When something goes wrong in healthcare, the instinct is often to blame...

Practical Applications for Enhancing Hygiene in Long-Term Care: A Multidepartmental Approach to Infection Prevention

During the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care facilities (LTCFs) showed a concerning increase in healthcare associated infections (HAIs). The unique needs of residents in LTCFs make them highly vuln...