National Patient Safety Foundation
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (formerly incorporating the National Patient Safety Foundation) is a 30+ year Boston-based nonprofit that uses improvement science and a total systems approach to advance patient and workforce safety for healthcare organizations and professionals globally, via education, certifications, consulting, and multi-organization collaboratives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What National Patient Safety Foundation does
The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), now operating under its legal entity the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) following the 2019 affiliation, is a Boston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1988 that has used improvement science for more than 30 years to advance patient and workforce safety across global healthcare systems. Its mission centers on a "total systems approach to safety," which integrates safety science, high-reliability principles, leadership commitment to safety culture, meaningful engagement of patients and families, and continuous learning systems to mitigate and prevent harm. The organization serves two principal customer segments — healthcare organizations seeking to advance evidence-based safety practice, and individual healthcare professionals seeking training and certification — and operates as both a thought leader and an implementation partner.
The product portfolio combines education (IHI Open School self-paced online courses), professional credentials (CPPS and CPHFH certifications), a think tank (IHI Lucian Leape Institute), structured multi-organization initiatives (Safer Together National Action Plan with 17 actionable recommendations; Age-Friendly Health Systems), communication and assessment tools (SBAR, Framework for Safe, Reliable, and Effective Care), and an annual recognition event (Patient Safety Awareness Week in March). Underlying methodology rests on improvement science applied through PDSA-style iterative testing, human factors engineering, and high-reliability organizing principles rather than on a software platform or proprietary AI system.
Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit mix — enterprise consulting engagements, certification and course fees, donations, grants, and participation in multi-organization collaboratives — though pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution spans self-serve online learning for individuals, direct enterprise sales of consulting and initiative partnerships, recurring flagship convenings (the annual IHI Forum in Phoenix, AZ), and content marketing through white papers, publications, podcasts, and multimedia. The geographic footprint is explicitly global, with localized content available in Arabic, French, Portuguese, and Spanish in addition to English.
National Patient Safety Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Patient Safety Foundation
- Legal name
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- Website
- https://npsf.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (formerly incorporating the National Patient Safety Foundation) is a 30+ year Boston-based nonprofit that uses improvement science and a total systems approach to advance patient and workforce safety for healthcare organizations and professionals globally, via education, certifications, consulting, and multi-organization collaboratives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Patient Safety Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Services
- NAICS
- Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Performance Management & Quality Improvement (HLAJAMAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health Systems Performance & Quality Measurement (Public Sector) (HLAJANAK), Health Systems Strengthening & Primary Care Development (HLAJAKAJ), Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations (HLAJAKAN)
Keywords
Where National Patient Safety Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
National Patient Safety Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
National Patient Safety Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The National Patient Safety Foundation, operating as part of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), advances patient and workforce safety through expert-led consulting services, professional certifications (CPPS, CPHFH), self-paced online training (IHI Open School), national safety initiatives (National Action Plan, Age-Friendly Health Systems), and a think tank (Lucian Leape Institute). Its core mission is to help healthcare organizations eliminate harm and build continuous improvement capability through evidence-based improvement science and a total systems approach to safety.
Product overview
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), which incorporates the National Patient Safety Foundation's mission following their 2019 affiliation, offers an integrated portfolio of patient safety products and services. The core offerings include the IHI Open School (self-paced online courses), professional certifications (Certified Professional in Patient Safety and Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care), and the IHI Lucian Leape Institute think tank. These are complemented by practical tools like the SBAR communication tool, publications including the Framework for Safe, Reliable, and Effective Care, and initiative programs such as the National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety (17 recommendations) and the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement. The portfolio is supported by expert consulting services and the annual Patient Safety Awareness Week recognition event.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- IHI Open School Self-paced online courses that build knowledge and skills to improve patient safety for healthcare professionals.
- Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Professional credential demonstrating proficiency in core patient safety standards, awarded to individual healthcare professionals.
- Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care (CPFH) Professional credential demonstrating proficiency in applying the core standards of human factors, systems thinking, and design to healthcare improvement.
- IHI Consulting Services Expert-led consulting services providing methods, tools, and best practices to help healthcare organizations address improvement challenges and build internal improvement capability.
- National Action Plan to Advance Patient Safety (Safer Together) A total systems approach to safety offering 17 actionable recommendations to advance safety across the care continuum for participating healthcare organizations.
- Age-Friendly Health Systems A movement aimed at providing older adults with safe, effective, reliable, and patient-centered care in settings across the care continuum.
- IHI Fellowship Program Fellowship program providing in-depth professional development for healthcare leaders to lead meaningful improvement (evidenced as part of IHI Learn offerings).
Quantifiable outcome
- 17 actionable recommendations to advance safety across the care continuum
Companies that use National Patient Safety Foundation
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
National Patient Safety Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
National Patient Safety Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
National Patient Safety Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ECRI Institute: ECRI is an independent nonprofit that researches patient safety, medical device risks, and healthcare quality. It overlaps directly with IHI/NPSF on patient safety evidence, alerts, and provider-facing guidance.
- National Quality Forum (NQF): NQF is a nonprofit that convenes stakeholders to develop healthcare performance measures and quality standards. It overlaps with IHI's patient safety and quality improvement mission, particularly around measurement, reporting, and consensus-based frameworks.
- Leapfrog Group: Leapfrog is a nonprofit watchdog that grades hospitals on safety and quality. It is comparable to IHI/NPSF in driving transparency and improvement expectations among U.S. hospitals.
- American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM): ASHRM is a professional association that educates and certifies healthcare risk and safety professionals. It is comparable to IHI/NPSF on workforce credentialing, education, and patient safety professional development.
- Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP): ISMP is a nonprofit focused specifically on medication safety, providing alerts, guidelines, and education. It is a specialized peer within the broader patient safety space where IHI/NPSF operates.
Broad incumbents
- Joint Commission: The Joint Commission is the largest U.S. healthcare accreditor, setting patient safety standards and surveying hospitals. It is directly comparable to IHI/NPSF in shaping patient safety expectations and offers overlapping education, certification, and consulting-adjacent programs.
- National Council for Quality Assurance (NCQA): NCQA accredits and measures health plans and provider organizations, with a strong focus on quality and patient safety. It overlaps with IHI's institutional improvement and measurement mission across the care continuum.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): AHRQ is the U.S. federal agency focused on healthcare quality and safety research. It produces patient safety tools, evidence reports, and training resources that compete and complement IHI's improvement science content.
- World Health Organization Patient Safety Programme: The WHO Patient Safety Programme sets global patient safety norms and initiatives, including the World Patient Safety Day. It is comparable to IHI's global patient safety convening role and overlaps on frameworks, research, and capacity building.
Emerging players
- Press Ganey: Press Ganey is a healthcare performance and patient experience analytics firm that helps providers improve safety and quality outcomes. It is comparable to IHI on the applied improvement and measurement side, but with a more commercial, data-vendor business model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Patient Safety Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceNational Patient Safety Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Patient Safety Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
National Patient Safety Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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National Patient Safety Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about National Patient Safety Foundation
What does National Patient Safety Foundation do?
The National Patient Safety Foundation, operating as part of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), advances patient and workforce safety through expert-led consulting services, professional certifications (CPPS, CPHFH), self-paced online training (IHI Open School), national safety initiatives (National Action Plan, Age-Friendly Health Systems), and a think tank (Lucian Leape Institute). Its core mission is to help healthcare organizations eliminate harm and build continuous improvement capability through evidence-based improvement science and a total systems approach to safety.
Is National Patient Safety Foundation a public or private company?
National Patient Safety Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Patient Safety Foundation founded?
National Patient Safety Foundation was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is National Patient Safety Foundation based?
National Patient Safety Foundation is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
Who are National Patient Safety Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ECRI Institute, National Quality Forum (NQF), Leapfrog Group, American Society for Healthcare Risk Management (ASHRM) and Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). Broad incumbents are Joint Commission, National Council for Quality Assurance (NCQA), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and World Health Organization Patient Safety Programme. Press Ganey is listed as an emerging player.
Does National Patient Safety Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Patient Safety Foundation.
What industry is National Patient Safety Foundation in?
National Patient Safety Foundation's product category is Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAJAMAJ, Monitoring, Evaluation, Performance Management & Quality Improvement, with a secondary code of HLAJANAK, Health Systems Performance & Quality Measurement (Public Sector). Its NAICS code is 5417 and its SIC code is 8000.