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Introduction

In November 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a safety report, "To Err is Human", which estimates that 2.9-3.7% of US hospitalizations result in adverse events, and 44,000-98,000 hospitalized patients die annually due to medical errors. An outcome of the study was the enactment of legislation by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts providing for the establishment of the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction. The Center, which was launched in January 2004, is named for Betsy Lehman, a Boston Globe health news reporter who died in 1994 as the result of a medication error -- an overdose of chemotherapy. The Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors, established in 1996, serves as the Advisory Committee to the Betsy Lehman Center.

Mission

The Betsy Lehman Center serves as a clearinghouse for the development, evaluation, and dissemination, including, but not limited to the sponsorship of training and education programs, of best practices for patient safety and medical error reduction.

Patient Safety Topics and Resources

Patient Safety Awards

Conferences

Contact Us

Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction
99 Chauncy Street
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 753-8000

This information is provided by the Betsy Lehman for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction within the Department of Public Health.