In the last 20 years, new areas of focus have arisen requiring attention from those in healthcare (and other industries) who desire to provide the highest quality of services and products (outcomes). Healthcare professionals recognize that they have a duty to protect their patients and their organizations. They gather information and knowledge to assist in meeting requirements as each new standard is introduced.
While we work to improve quality, comply with regulations and adopt patient safety goals, we need to understand that the standards against which healthcare is measured are constantly changing. The legal system continues to modify the definition of the standard of care. The standard of care is the minimum legal standard and is defined by what a reasonably prudent healthcare professional would do. Failing to meet this minimum standard is defined as negligence.
We must not only adopt and implement patient safety goals, new regulations and quality measures, we must recognize that they are becoming the new minimum legal requirement. Failing to properly implement patient safety goals, etc. means that we risk being found negligent if our patients suffer as a result of our failure to meet these new standards and goals.