Reporting near misses can benefit organizations if the reports are examined and corrective measures are implemented.

The substantial increase in the volume of ambulatory surgical procedures increases the need to prepare for delivering unanticipated patient care and safe transfers to hospitals.

The substantial increase in the volume of ambulatory surgical procedures increases the need to prepare for delivering unanticipated patient care and safe transfers to hospitals.

A heightened sensitivity to the critical nature of oxygen therapy is warranted because it requires multiple steps and multiple equipment connections.

Emergent patient situations occurring in relation to patient transfer for computed tomography suggest the need for systems to expedite emergency response.

Medical abbreviations are subjective, and because of variation they may not always be understood or correctly interpreted.

Event reports suggest that sequential depression devices may increase the risk of harm when patients fall; several risk reduction strategies may help reduce injury.

Patients in intensive care units (ICUs) may be more likely than non-ICU patients to be injured by adverse events.

Such an occurrence is preventable when visual and operational checks are performed by qualified clinical staff.

Since publication of the June 2005 Patient Safety Advisory article "Risk of Fire from Alcohol-Based Solutions," the National Fire Protection Association amended its standards to permit the use of flammable liquid germicides provided specific precautions are followed.

Event reports describe cases in which the design and/or use of automated dispensing cabinets have contributed to errors.

Anesthesia awareness has historically been under-recognized and under-treated; however, estimates indicate that approximately 100 cases occur daily in the United States.