The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended a four-tiered approach to safety. The first was to establish a national focus to create leadership, research, tools, and protocols to enhance the knowledge base about safety. The Second was to identify and learn from errors by developing a nationwide public mandatory reporting system and encouraging healthcare organizations to create and participate in voluntary reporting systems. The Third was to raise performance standards and expectations for improvements in safety through the actions of oversight organizations, professional groups, and group purchasers of health care. Lastly, IOM wanted to implement safety systems in healthcare organizations to ensure safe practices at the delivery level (Err is Human, n.d.)

The US healthcare system has taken the IOM's recommendations and hit the ground running. The response has been positive in the various healthcare systems at the government, private sectors, and state levels. Organizations for nurses and doctors have come together, and multiple research and fundraising efforts have been made to improve Americans' safety and quality of healthcare. The second recommendation for a mandatory reporting system for errors is the most effective of the four suggestions. We are all human, and mistakes will happen from time to time. If there were a reporting system that all organizations could see and learn from, they would be less likely to happen as often. Healthcare is constantly changing, and sometimes we find what we thought would be a positive change ended up being negative in the long run. Learning about this from others instead of an organization waiting to find out for themselves could save lives, time, effort, and money. Together, all of the recommendations will pave the way for a significant increase in patient safety. The first recommendation would be the least effective. Although it is essential and needs to be a part of the process to increase patient safety, more positive changes start from within the organization. If healthcare organizations provide a safety culture with their protocols, research, and tools, then they can match the national level's recommendations Err is Human, n.d.)

The US immediately started making moves after the IOM recommendations came out. First, the Clinton administration issued orders for government agonies to oversee programs to reduce medical errors. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) was granted $50 million to support efforts to reduce medical errors, develop new technology to minimize mistakes, conduct large-scale demonstration projects, and support new and established multidisciplinary teams. They funded research for organizations to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate new approaches. The AHRQ has also developed a booklet for patients to help them choose the best organizations and providers while encouraging them patiently to play an active role in their care. Multiple organizations have come together to collaborate on patient safety and educational programs. The US has taken patient safety with the utmost importance and continues to make strides for the better (Err is Human, n.d.)

Reference

To err is human: Building a safer health system. summary. (n.d.). Retrieved February 7, 2023, from https://nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/9728/To-Err-is-Human-1999--report-brief.pdf