Which organization developed the National Patient Safety Goals, the Sentinel Event Policy, and the Speak Up Initiative?

• A. The Joint Commission
• B. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• C. The Health Resources and Services Administration
• D. The Office of the Inspector General

Answer: (A)

These initiatives are all from The Joint Commission. The National Patient Safety Goals are a set of accreditation standards they publish to help healthcare organizations reduce errors and improve safety. The Sentinel Event Policy describes how sentinel events—unexpected events resulting in death or serious injury—are reported, investigated, and used to make improvements. The Speak Up Initiative is a Joint Commission campaign that educates and empowers patients to ask questions and participate in their care to prevent safety issues. The other organizations—AHRQ, HRSA, and the Office of the Inspector General—focus on research, access and workforce, and oversight, not these specific safety programs.