What is the primary function of patient safety organizations (PSOs)?

The primary function of patient safety organizations (PSOs) is to collect and analyze data regarding patient safety events for improvement and research. PSOs play a crucial role in enhancing patient safety by gathering information about incidents, near misses, and adverse events within healthcare settings. This data collection allows for the identification of trends and patterns that can inform evidence-based practices aimed at reducing errors and improving patient care quality.

By focusing on data analysis, PSOs support healthcare organizations in learning from past experiences and establishing strategies to prevent future occurrences. This process is vital for creating a culture of safety, encouraging healthcare providers to report safety events without fear of punishment, and facilitating a systematic approach to patient safety improvements.

In contrast, other options, such as reducing healthcare costs or enforcing regulations related to health insurance, do not align with the core mission of PSOs. The focus is specifically on safety data rather than on the development of medical technologies, making the collection and analysis of patient safety event data a fundamental task of PSOs.