3 Emerging Safety Risks for Pediatric Hospitals
To avoid preventable harm, pediatric health care organizations should ensure they’re following current pediatric preventive practices and immediate recommendations included in the Safety Watch.
Assessments by the Child Health Patient Safety Organization® (PSO) reveal potential risks pediatric hospitals and health care professionals should be aware of.
Unrecognized clinical deterioration
Children compensate differently and for longer periods than adults do, often masking potentially fatal deterioration.
Pressure injuries
Pressure injuries occur in up to 27% of pediatric hospital cases, frequently progress after detection, and may become sentinel events.
Discharge medication errors
Occurring in up to a third of discharges, medication errors can lead to an increase in patient visits, a need for higher levels of care, and permanent disability.
Data for the Safety Watch is compiled from Child Health PSO safety analysis. Join the only federally registered PSO in the U.S. dedicated solely to children’s hospitals.
Child Health PSO® Safety Watches
View a full list of past Safety Watches released by CHA's Child Health Patient Safety Organization®.
2025 PSO Safety Watches
Unrecognized Clinical Deterioration
Children compensate differently and for longer periods than adults do, making it more difficult to recognize deterioration.
Pressure Injuries
Pressure injuries occur in up to a quarter of pediatric hospital cases, frequently progress after detection, and may become sentinel events.
Discharge Medication Errors
Pediatric patients are at high risk of medication errors due to age- and weight-based dosing and because some patients may not be able to recognize discrepancies.
