Abstracts by key term: Communication skills
Patient safety is one of the highest goals of healthcare and, since 2022, the tenth national health goal in Germany. Care errors contribute significantly to temporary or permanent impairment, prolonged hospital stays, or even death of patients. Although the topic has received considerable attention in the USA since the publication of "To err is human" in 2000, there remains a significant need for action. Adverse events triggered in the treatment context cannot be completely prevented given the complexity of medical treatments and the range of patient pre-existing health conditions. Strategies to improve the quality of care therefore focus on preventing avoidable adverse events. These are defined as those that would not occur if current medical standards were adhered to. The Patient Safety Action Alliance (APS), an alliance of representatives of healthcare professions, institutions, associations, and patient organizations, has been committed to implementing strategies to prevent adverse events since its founding in 2005. Treatment errors usually occur within complex and collaborative contexts. Against this backdrop, the APS considers collaborative learning from mistakes to be the most important tool for improving patient safety [1]. To enable and successfully implement this, open communication is essential.