Patient Safety

At UPMC, safety is at the heart of how we provide quality care you can rely on. We take each step possible to assure your safety — and the safety of your family and friends while you're in our care.

We also know that the more people involved, the better the results. This includes each UPMC health care team member and you. When we work as a team, we make steady progress toward our goal of zero errors.

Patient Safety Initiatives

• Embracing a culture of safety. UPMC fosters a culture of safety in all of our hospitals. We offer the people we care for and our team members the chance to express concerns and share insights to improve safety.
• Avoiding patient injuries. UPMC is always working to cut or reduce the risk of injury. We focus on creating safer techniques and spaces for you throughout our health system. The Wolff Center at UPMC and The Beckwith Institute also recognize, reward, and support our team members' efforts to promote safety and prevention.
• Learning programs that mirror the clinical environment (WISER). These simulated learning programs allow teams to make real-world decisions to improve the "patient's" outcome. They help improve our clinical quality and safety.
• Addressing adverse events and root causes. You deserve the best possible experience and care. But an adverse event can happen. UPMC has the tools to review, analyze, and respond to any adverse events that may occur. 
• Reducing readmissions. At UPMC, we know readmissions happen at times. Our goal is to design a discharge plan to avoid a return visit.
• Providing the "Condition Help" patient safety hotline. We empower patients and families to speak up to prevent errors and communication breakdowns in care.