In 2025, the top threats to patient safety reflect a mix of long-standing challenges and emerging risks, according to a new report from ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
Long-standing issues such as diagnostic errors and healthcare-associated infections remain critical concerns, while newer threats like artificial intelligence governance and cybersecurity breaches are reshaping the patient safety landscape.
Topping the list of patient safety threats in 2025 is dismissing patient, family and caregiver concerns — a problem that has fueled delayed diagnoses, worsened patient outcomes and deepened disparities. Fifty-five percent of patients who felt their concerns were dismissed by their provider reported worsened systems, while 28% experienced a health emergency due to lack of response, according to the report. To mitigate these risks, the report urges healthcare leaders to adopt a systems-based approach to improve patient-provider communication, address cognitive biases and foster a culture of trust.
Here are the 10 most pressing patient safety challenges in 2025, per the report:
- Dismissing patient, family and caregiver concerns
- Insufficient governance of artificial intelligence
- Spread of medical misinformation
- Cybersecurity breaches
- Caring for veterans in non-military health settings
- Substandard and falsified drugs
- Diagnostic errors in cancers, vascular events and infections
- Healthcare-associated infections in long-term care facilities
- Inadequate coordination during patient discharge
- Deteriorating working conditions in community pharmacies
The threats identified in the report are based on expert evaluations of severity, frequency and systemic impact, and are meant to support healthcare organizations in prioritizing efforts to reduce preventable harm. The full report, which includes systems-based solutions for each concern, can be found here.