Hospital accreditation--a foundation for high reliability.

The people who work in health care organizations are committed to providing the best care possible to their patients. In the contemporary health care environment this is a very difficult commitment to keep. Health care has never been more complicated or demanding of the people who work in the industry. This article describes two different but complimentary methods for improving the quality and safety of health care. Accreditation provides a foundation for creating systems of care across many types of health care organizations. High reliability inspires people and organizations to strive for the highest levels of performance. Together, these methods give people working in health care an opportunity to fulfil their commitment to their patients.