Public Service Announcement
5 Steps to Safer Health Care offers evidence-based practical tips on the role
patients can play to help avoid errors related to prescription medicines, laboratory
tests, and procedures and surgery. The 5 Steps awareness campaign consists of a 30-second
public service announcement (PSA), posters, and fact sheets. It results from
efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (led by the Agency
for
Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ]) in partnership with the American Hospital
Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA).
Background
The 5 Steps to Safer Health Care tips were developed through a joint effort of AHRQ, HHS' Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services, the Office of Personnel Management, and the Department of Labor.
These materials, available in English and Spanish, emphasize that good communication
between health care providers and patients often can reduce a potential source
of problems in today's increasingly complex health care system. The tips also
are included in the Medicare & You handbook, which is mailed to about 39 million Medicare households each year.
5 Steps PSA with ER's Laura Innes
As part of the campaign, the AMA, AHA, and AHRQ worked with actress Laura
Innes, who plays Dr. Kerry Weaver on the hit NBC show ER, to further promote the 5 Steps messages by recording a 30-second public service announcement that is airing on TV stations nationwide.
Viewing the Video
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Additional Resources
5 Steps to Safer Health Care
Select to access 5 Steps to Safer Health Care (Also available en español).
Print copies also are available. Ask for 5 Steps to Safer Health Care (AHRQ Publication No. 03-M007).
Other Patient Safety Resources
AHRQ has a number of additional resources available to help improve patient safety and reduce medical errors:
Current as of May 2005
Internet Citation:
5 Steps to Safer Health Care. Public Service Announcement. May 2005. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/5stepspsa.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850