WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the National Action Alliance for Patient and Workforce Safety (NAA), has unveiled the National Healthcare Safety Dashboard, a new online resource aimed at enhancing transparency and improving safety in healthcare settings. The dashboard consolidates safety data from four major measurement sources, offering a comprehensive view of patient and workforce safety conditions across the healthcare system.
“Safety is critically important for patients and the healthcare workforce,” stated HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra, recognizing the effort as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s broader agenda to improve healthcare access and quality. The dashboard aims to empower healthcare organizations, policymakers, and advocates to monitor safety outcomes and implement evidence-based measures to reduce harm.
Dashboard Features and Purpose
The initial phase of the National Healthcare Safety Dashboard focuses on hospital care, integrating key safety metrics from sources such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) Patient Safety Indicators, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Hospital Reporting Program, and patient safety culture surveys. It is designed to provide stakeholders with actionable insights by highlighting trends and progress in reducing errors, adverse events, and risks facing both patients and healthcare workers.
Plans are underway to expand the dashboard to include data from additional care settings, such as ambulatory clinics and nursing homes. By providing a centralized repository for safety statistics, the tool is expected to enhance the accountability and transparency of safety initiatives nationwide.
A National Safety Goal
The NAA, a coalition of federal agencies and private partners led by AHRQ, has committed to cutting patient and workforce harm rates by 50% by 2026. The dashboard is a core component of this goal, enabling data-driven strategies and collaborative efforts to improve safety outcomes at scale.
Dr. Robert Valdez, the director of AHRQ, emphasized the dashboard’s potential impact, stating, “This tool allows the healthcare community to track progress and identify areas where we can together drive meaningful change. It represents a significant advancement in making care delivery safer, more transparent, and accountable.”
Significance of the Initiative
The National Healthcare Safety Dashboard reflects the federal government’s commitment to addressing the challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted substantial gaps in patient and workforce safety. By fostering a data-informed approach to safety improvements, the initiative serves as a critical step in reducing preventable harm and strengthening the resilience of healthcare systems across the nation.
As part of the Secretary’s Health Workforce Initiative, the dashboard aligns HHS’s efforts to bolster workforce conditions while ensuring better outcomes for patients. Through this tool, policymakers and healthcare providers can make informed decisions to meet safety goals and advance quality care for all.
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