ACOG committee opinion number 286, October 2003: patient safety in obstetrics and gynecology

Emphasis on patient safety has increased in the past few years mostly in response to the Institute of Medicine report "To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System." Obstetrician*gynecologists should incorporate elements of patient safety into their practices and also encourage others to use these practices. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is committed to improving quality and safety in women's health care. The Institute of Medicine report, "To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System," notes that errors in health care are a significant cause of death and injury. Despite disagreements over the actual numbers cited, all health care professionals agree that patient safety is extremely important and should be addressed by the overall health care system. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to emphasize its long-standing commitment to quality and patient safety by codifying a set of objectives that should be adopted by obstetrician*gynecologists in their practices. Obstetrician*gynecologists are encouraged to promulgate these principles in the hospitals and other settings where they practice.