Prologue: Laying the Foundation

The volume starts with papers that look to the future and examine the past with respect to patient safety; however, its overarching theme is assessment. An underlying premise to any volume that focuses on assessment is that the time spent in trying to understand the nature of the problem is well worth the effort. A good understanding of the problem space provides the foundation upon which all subsequent efforts are based. Without adequate assessment, the likelihood that subsequent steps and initiatives will be wide of the mark increases substantially.