1.How has the overall focus of the goals changed in the intervening years?
• The original 2003 National Patient Safety Goals set a precedent for “improving the accuracy of patient identification, the effectiveness of communication among caregivers, the safety use of high-alert medications, eliminate wrong-site/wrong patient/wrong procedure surgery, the safety of using infusion pumps and the effectiveness of clinical alarm systems.” (Ophthalmology Times, 2002 Pg 35). The focus, since the inception of these goals, has only intensified. For example, in the recent 2025 revision, items related to surgery have more detailed goals. While the 2003 version only says to complete a “time-out to confirm correct patient, procedure, and site,” the 2025 version adds to “Mark the correct place on the patient’s body where the surgery is to be done” (The Joint Commission, 2025) and to “Pause before the surgery to make sure that a mistake is not being made,”(The Joint Commission, 2025). Another mention is that since the 2003 National Patient Safety Goals, the goals have been divided into specific programs and provided in an easy-to-read version. Each program has its goals along with elements of performance that require further action toward the goal.

What conditions in the healthcare marketplace have driven the need for change?
• One condition in healthcare that has driven change to the National Patient Safety Goals is access. Patients now use tele-health or tele-medicine which required the Joint Commission to add a Telehealth chapter to the NPSGs. This section maintains goals in accordance with “Improving the safety of using medication and health care equity.”

References:
Joint commission announces national patient safety goals for 2003. (Retina). (2002, August 15). Ophthalmology Times, 27(16). https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbig&AN=edsgcl.91304844&site=eds-live&scope=site

The Joint Commission. (2025). National Patient Safety Goals. The Joint Commission. https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/2025/all-programs-npsg-simplified-2025.pdf

The Joint Commission. (2025). National Patient Safety Goals. The Joint Commission. https://www.jointcommission.org/-/media/tjc/documents/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/2025/tel-npsg-chapter.pdf