Building a Culture of Safety in Pediatrics and Child Health

Opinion statement While there have been significant technical advances in the provision of health care to children, there remains ongoing challenges in developing a culture of safety in pediatrics and child health. In many health systems, quality and safety programs are fragmented and the results variable. Health leaders need to ensure that care remains compassionate, child centered, and reliable across the systems in which they work. In order to transform our health system, we need to build and spread a culture of safety and reliability. Understanding the challenges and opportunities required to develop a culture of safety in pediatrics is best explored at three different levels. This paper aims to explore opportunities to build a culture of safety in pediatrics and child health at three levels. The first is the ward or unit base, the second is the hospital or heath system at large, and the third is whole system transformation at state, national, and global level.