Patient Safety

Member Alerts
Patient Safety is a top priority at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Whether you are a healthcare professional, a patient or a member of the media, the information collected on this Web site shows how you can prevent medical errors. Some people might say this is overly cautious. We say in surgery, there is no such thing.

• Eliminating Wrong-Site Surgery
• Safety Checklists
• Patient Safety Tips
• Patient Safety Curriculum
• AAOS Official Statements

Patients, Public and the Media

Medical errors result in more deaths annually than vehicle accidents, breast cancer or AIDS. Each person connected to the healthcare system has a vested interest in reducing the number of medical errors. AAOS encourages patients, the public and the Media to take an active role in educating themselves about this serious issue to prevent future medical errors.

• Selected Patient Safety Articles from AAOS Bulletin
• Related Information and Activities

AAOS Members Only
• Patient Safety Presentations
• Sample Standard Order Sets
• Patient Safety Alerts & Newsletters

Orthopaedic Surgeons and Healthcare Professionals

Orthopaedic surgeons and healthcare professionals play unique roles in the patient safety drama, roles that can result in effecting cultural change and reducing the number of medical errors. AAOS commits to making a broad range of patient safety information readily available to these individuals who have each made a commitment to patient care.

• Selected Patient Safety Articles from AAOS Bulletin
• Related Information and Activities

AAOS Members Only
• Patient Safety Presentations
• Sample Standard Order Sets
• Patient Safety Alerts & Newsletters

Additional Patient Safety Resources

AAOS is pleased to provide these additional sources of patient safety information. Links are provided to Internet resources as well as information to help make hospital stays and office visits safer for patients and for healthcare professionals.

• Your Orthopaedic Connection