We are an independent voice for patient safety

The Oregon Patient Safety Commission (OPSC) is a semi-independent state agency that supports healthcare facilities and providers in improving patient safety. We encourage broad information sharing, ongoing education, and open conversations to cultivate a more trusted healthcare system.

Despite everyone’s best intentions and efforts, patient harm sometimes occurs. OPSC offers a constructive space for healthcare facilities, providers, and patients to learn from what happened—and make care safer going forward.

We fulfill our mission through two initiatives:

Patient Safety Reporting Program (PSRP)

PSRP collects and analyzes information from healthcare facilities about patient harm events. We share the lessons learned to support facilities in improving care and preventing future harm.

PSRP for Healthcare Professionals

Early Discussion and Resolution (EDR)

EDR helps connect patients who experience harm and their healthcare provider so they can speak candidly about what occurred, work toward reconciliation, and contribute to safeguarding others from similar harm.

EDR for Patients & Families

Our History

The Oregon Legislature created OPSC in 2003 as an independent voice for patient safety. At that time, many people in our state and around the world saw an urgent need for greater collaboration and systemwide insights to address underlying challenges in healthcare that increase the risk of patient harm. OPSC grew out of recommendations from a workgroup representing medical providers, insurers, purchasers, and consumers. They believed that the work of improving patient safety never ends and should not have to be done in isolation.

“As I sought remedies that would support healthcare system improvements [and] result in quality outcomes for patients, I discovered that I was not alone. All the members of the group were part of this quest for a process and a culture of patient safety that would work for patients and the institutions charged with serving them.”

— Ellen C. Lowe, workgroup member

Our founding principles

Create a safe, non-punitive, and confidential haven for the collection and use of patient safety information for learning
Change the climate of patient safety in Oregon, while acknowledging that such change will require a long-term, sustained effort
Identify and share best practices
Fully represent patients and the patient’s experience in patient safety efforts
Encourage a “just culture” framework that balances individual accountability with a non-punitive, learning approach to achieve system improvements