Harvard professor applauds hospital safety but says more should be done

Harvard School of Public Health professor Lucian L. Leape, MD, is one of the nation's top experts on patient safety. Nearly 20 years ago, his research startled the nation with such findings as one of every 200 patients admitted to a hospital died as a result of a hospital mistake. Leape now says that while the industry has made great strides to improve patient safety, much more needs to be done. Part of the solution is to automate and hand off some of the non-care functions so that healthcare professionals can spend more time engaging with and treating patients, Leape said recently during the annual congress of the National Patient Safety Foundation.