Patient safety has received considerable attention in the biomedical literature and media in the past few years. Healthcare consumers and providers have become aware that medical errors can and do occur and that many of these errors are preventable. To help promote patient safety, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) will implement its National Patient Safety Goals and Recommendations on January 1, 2003. Each goal has evidence-based recommendations to help facilities reduce and, hopefully, prevent errors.