AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Mission

AHRQ's Patient Safety Network is a national Web-based resource featuring the latest news and essential resources on patient safety. Supported by an extensive system for organizing the site's patient safety information into categories and subcategories (i.e., a patient safety taxonomy) and robust Web architecture, AHRQ’s PSNet provides powerful searching and browsing capability, as well as the ability for diverse users to customize the site around their interests (My PSNet). Go to https://psnet.ahrq.gov.

Relevance

The site provides up-to-the-minute explanation of current patient safety practices and findings as well as discussion of how they may be implemented. It also provides resources for self-education for persons new to patient safety concepts.

Products

1. Weekly Updates: Source of up-to-date information from the patient safety literature, news, tools, and events. Past versions of Weekly Updates are archived on the PSNet website. Sign up for PSNet weekly updates.
2. Web M&M Cases and Commentaries: Consist of expert analysis of medical errors reported anonymously by our readers. Commentaries are written exclusively by patient safety experts and published monthly.
   • Spotlight Cases: include interactive learning modules with available free CME.
3. Perspectives on Safety: Features expert viewpoints on current themes in patient safety, including interviews and written essays published monthly.
   • Annual Perspectives highlight vital and emerging patient safety topics and are released yearly.
4. Primers: Guides for key topics in patient safety through context, epidemiology, and content. 
5. Innovations highlight pioneering advances that can improve patient safety. 6
6. Curated Libraries are groupings of PSNet content, curated by AHRQ and by other experts in the patient safety field. 7
7. Patient Safety Toolkits provide practical applications of PSNet research and concepts for front line providers to use in their day-to-day work.
8. Training Catalog Database, updated monthly, of patient safety training programs, events, and meetings.

NOTE: Permission to reprint material that AHRQ's PSNet links to on non-AHRQ sites may require contacting the copyright holder—the author or original publisher, such as a scientific journal. However, permission to reuse material appearing on AHRQ's PSNet site may be obtained for educational or clinical use by contacting psnetsupport@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Audiences

Depending on the depth of detail desired, the reports and other documents on AHRQ's PSNet may be useful to patients, educators, researchers, clinicians, consumers, and policymakers.

Settings of Care

AHRQ's PSNet includes research and recommendations involving all settings of care (ambulatory or outpatient care, acute care hospitalization, rehabilitation, and long-term care).

Participating Agencies, Organizations, and Institutions

AHRQ's PSNet is managed by MOST Investments d/b/a Pantheon, University of California-Davis, and IMPAQ International. The Editorial Team is advised by an Editorial Board and a Technical Advisory Panel.