Improving how healthcare organizations respond after harm
Harm from healthcare is often misunderstood.
It can include physical, emotional, and other long-term impacts, and affects patients and many others. Many assumptions about harm don't reflect what science and experience show.
Who we are
The way organizations respond to patient harm shapes everything that follows
The Center for Harm Response is the only national nonprofit focused exclusively on improving how organizations respond after harm in healthcare.
Through research and structured programs, we help healthcare organizations respond in more transparent, consistent, and effective ways. Our focus is on creating real and lasting impact.
Reshaping how we respond to harm
The Center for Harm Response exists to transform how healthcare organizations respond to harm. Too often, responses are driven by risk and defense. We help organizations shift toward approaches grounded in integrity, accountability, and transparency. This is how Communication and Resolution Programs (CRPs) can shift the response:
Historical Approach
Deny & Defend
A better way forward
Communication & Resolution Programs (CRPs)
Organization & risk-focused
Patient, family, and clinician-focused
Reactive, which neglects the needs of the people affected by harm events
Proactive, attends to peoples’ needs through accountability, compassion, and transparency
May promote claims & litigation
Decreases a driver of claims & litigation
Limits dialogue. Impairs healing, learning, improvement, safety culture
Promotes understanding, learning, and engagement; clinical & quality mission; culture of safety; rebuilds trust
Historical Approach
Deny & Defend
- Organization & risk-focused
- Reactive, which neglects the needs of the people affected by harm events
- May promote claims & litigation
- Limits dialogue. Impairs healing, learning, improvement, safety culture
A better way forward
Communication & Resolution Programs (CRPs)
- Patient, family, and clinician-focused
- Proactive, attends to peoples’ needs through accountability, compassion, and transparency
- Decreases a driver of claims & litigation
- Promotes understanding, learning, and engagement; clinical & quality mission; culture of safety; rebuilds trust
Who We Serve
We work with the people who shape, lead, and experience the response after patient harm.
Healthcare leaders
Clinicians
Patients & families
How we work
We offer a set of programs designed to help organizations build, strengthen, and sustain a more effective response after harm in healthcare. Whether you’re just getting started or advancing an existing approach, our programs provide the structure, guidance, and support to move the work forward.
PACT Collaborative
PACT: Pathway to Accountability, Compassion, and Transparency
The PACT Collaborative helps healthcare organizations improve the way they respond to harm by supporting the implementation of Communication and Resolution Programs (CRPs).
PACT Leadership & Innovation Network
A national network for shared learning, connection, and advancement
The PACT Network is a forward-thinking learning community for
organizations deeply dedicated to harm response program implementation, longevity, and innovation
Training & Consulting
Targeted guidance to support implementation, education, and leadership alignment.
Supporting organizations across the country
We’ve worked with healthcare leaders and teams across the U.S. to strengthen how organizations respond after harm.
75+ facility teams engaged
25+ states represented
5,000+ annual learner-hours
Grounded in over two decades of research and real-world implementation.
PACT helped us learn faster, avoid pitfalls, and strengthen our work.
This work is making a difference
With additional support, we can expand access and reach more organizations working to improve how they respond after harm.
Get in touch
If you’re looking to build, strengthen, or advance the response to harm, we’re here to help.