Hippocrates' "first do no harm" principle guides medical practice since 4th century BC. ABC's 20/20 program in 1982 revealed 6,000 deaths annually from anesthesia accidents. IOM report in 1999 showed 98,000 preventable deaths annually from medical errors
WHO published checklist in 2008 to improve surgical patient safety. Checklist reduces surgical complications and deaths by up to one-third. Developed from pilot checklists' success in aviation safety
Patient safety is a fundamental principle in health care. Every point in care-giving contains inherent unsafety. New treatments can pose new threats to safe care
Prescription abbreviations are derived from Latin words for daily, bedtime, and twice daily. Over 150 prescription abbreviations exist, including qd, hs, bid, and Rx. Pharmacy translates healthcare provider's instructions into medication labels
JCAHO established IPSGs in 2006 to enhance global patient safety. Healthcare needs globalization and sustainability improvements. WHO and JCAHO work together to promote these goals
FDA regulates pharmaceutical products and healthcare in the US. Over 22% of US detentions occur due to labeling mistakes. All prescription drugs and biological products must follow FDA guidelines