Patient Safety Center for Research and Education

The Patient Safety Center for Research and Education (PSCARE) is dedicated to the crucial improvement of patient outcomes by addressing two significant healthcare challenges: preventing medication errors and managing opioid misuse.

Our mission is to balance research with community education. The educational component is vital for disseminating knowledge, best practices, and evidence-based guidelines to healthcare professionals, including pharmacists. PSCARE's work aligns with broader healthcare trends, including the shift toward value-based care and a greater emphasis on patient-centered approaches. Preventing medication errors and effectively managing OUD are ethical and financially prudent strategies that can benefit healthcare systems.

Opioid misuse is a nationwide public health crisis, and effective management is essential. PSCARE's focus on this issue, particularly in pharmacists' provision of buprenorphine, is significant for better access to treatments reducing stigma, and approaching OUD with a multidisciplinary approach to improve patient outcomes.

Directed by Dr. Marc Fleming, a health services researcher with expertise in behavioral theory, PSCARE has a core team of 12 dedicated faculty each with their own assets that build PSCARE. A full list of the PSCARE team can be found at the bottom. 

The Center for Patient Safety Research and Education has brought together a diverse and highly skilled team of faculty with a common mission: improving patient safety in healthcare. This interdisciplinary team is committed to tackling some of the most pressing patient safety issues facing our healthcare system today, including medication error prevention, opioid overdose prevention, opioid use disorder treatment, prescribing errors (e.g., Antibiotics), and safe medication disposal.

The collaborative efforts of the Center for Patient Safety Research and Education reflect a holistic approach to patient safety. By bringing together health outcomes researchers and clinicians, they bridge the gap between research and practice, ensuring that evidence-based solutions are not only developed but also effectively implemented in healthcare settings. Their work holds the promise of enhancing patient safety, improving healthcare outcomes, and ultimately saving lives in the face of these critical challenges.

PCPSC is an intimate conference, where front-line nursing, pharmacy, and medical professionals and leaders can build community and expand their knowledge of patient safety. This must-attend event is perfect for healthcare practitioners at all levels and students, who seek quality programming, networking, and the opportunity to shape future patient and medication safety throughout all touchpoints in patient care.