Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

What Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation does

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation founded in late 1985 and headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota, with the stated mission that no patient shall be harmed by anesthesia. It was the first independent multi-disciplinary organization created expressly to address preventable adverse clinical outcomes related to human error in anesthesia, and anesthesiology is widely recognized as the pioneering medical specialty in patient safety. APSF operates as a mission-driven foundation rather than a product company: its offerings center on education, research funding, and dissemination of safety best practices through the quarterly APSF Newsletter (the largest circulation anesthesia publication in the world, available in nine languages), the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast distributed across major streaming platforms, the APSF Video Library, the Technology Education Initiative covering Low-Flow Anesthesia, Quantitative Neuromuscular Monitoring, and Manual External Defibrillation, and the annual APSF Stoelting Consensus Conference convening approximately 130 perioperative leaders. It also funds research via the APSF/FAER Mentored Research Training Grant, Investigator Initiated Research Grants, and the APSF/Medtronic Patient Safety Research Grant ($150,000), and has cumulatively distributed $15 million in research funding over its 35-year history.

APSF serves a multi-disciplinary clinical audience — anesthesiologists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Anesthesiologist Assistants, perioperative and PACU nurses, and healthcare safety researchers — alongside engaged patients and patient advocates. Its revenue model is donation-based: tax-deductible individual contributions (recognized at $250 and above), corporate giving through the tiered APSF Partner Collaborative (Platinum $60,000, Gold $40,000, Silver $15,000, Bronze $5,000), conference sponsorships, stock donations, and planned gifts through the APSF Legacy Society established in 2019. Stripe is used for online donation processing. The foundation is supported by a broad corporate partner ecosystem including BD, GE Healthcare, Fresenius Kabi, Medtronic, Dräger, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals, with the American Society of Anesthesiologists serving as founding patron. Operational infrastructure includes eight Patient Safety Priority Advisory Groups (covering Culture of Safety, Clinical Deterioration, Non-Operating Room Anesthesia, Perioperative Brain Health, Opioid-Related Harm, Medication Safety, Infectious Diseases, and Airway Management), a Grant Alumni Academy, Social Media Ambassadors program, and active presence across Bluesky, Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.

Name

Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Legal name

Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

Website

https://apsf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

APSF is a 501c3 nonprofit foundation established in 1985 dedicated to ensuring no patient is harmed by anesthesia. It serves anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, perioperative nurses, and healthcare researchers globally through education, research grants, publications, and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Patient Safety Advocacy and Medical Education

NAICS

Offices of Physicians (62111)

SIC

Services-General Medical & Surgical Hospitals, Nec (8062)

akta.pro primary industry

Perioperative Anesthesia Services & Management (HLAFAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Perioperative/Anesthesia & Surgical Documentation Systems (HLACAAAF)

Keywords

• Patient safety advocacy
• Anesthesia safety education
• Medical research grants
• Perioperative safety resources
• Healthcare professional publications

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: APSF is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that operates primarily through tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and healthcare organizations. Individual donations of $250 or greater are recognized in quarterly newsletter publications and on the APSF website. Annual recurring contributions of $250 or greater receive a free APSF vest.
2. Corporate Partner Collaborative Membership: Pharmaceutical, medical device, and related organizations participate in the APSF Partner Collaborative at various sponsorship levels (Platinum $60,000, Gold $40,000, Silver $15,000, Bronze $5,000), providing significant organizational funding along with research and collaboration opportunities.
3. Conference Sponsorships: The annual Stoelting Consensus Conference offers sponsorship opportunities with a maximum of six supporters, generating revenue while bringing together leaders from perioperative professional organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) is a 501c3 nonprofit that advances anesthesia patient safety through education, research funding, publications, and convening of stakeholders. It publishes the largest-circulation anesthesia newsletter in the world, produces the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast, maintains a video library on safety topics, runs grant programs (APSF/FAER Mentored Research Training Grant and Investigator Initiated Research Grants), and hosts the annual APSF Stoelting Conference bringing together approximately 130 leaders from perioperative professional organizations. Its offerings are provided free to healthcare professionals and funded through individual donations, corporate Partner Collaborative memberships, and conference sponsorships.

Product overview

The Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) operates as a nonprofit patient safety organization rather than a traditional technology company. Its core offerings center on education, research, and dissemination of anesthesia safety information through multiple channels: the APSF Newsletter (the largest circulation anesthesia publication worldwide), the Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast distributed across major streaming platforms, the APSF Video Library covering safety topics, and the APSF Technology Education Initiative providing technology-focused training. APSF also supports research through grant programs including APSF/FAER Mentored Research Training Grants and Investigator Initiated Research Grants, and convenes stakeholders through the annual APSF Stoelting Conference. Additional offerings include patient safety advisory groups, rapid response services, and patient education resources, all united by the mission that no patient shall be harmed by anesthesia care.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• APSF Newsletter The official quarterly publication of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, serving as the largest circulation anesthesia publication in the world, communicating safety-related news, ideas, and opinions to perioperative patient safety professionals.
• Anesthesia Patient Safety Podcast The official podcast of APSF hosted by Alli Bechtel, MD, featuring the latest information and news in perioperative and anesthesia patient safety, delivered as audio episodes through multiple streaming platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube, Castbox, Podcast Addict).
• APSF Video Library A collection of educational videos covering patient safety topics including medication safety, monitoring for opioid-induced ventilatory impairment, perioperative visual loss, surgical fires prevention, and workplace violence prevention.
• APSF Technology Education Initiative (TEI) An educational initiative providing resources on anesthesia technology including Low-Flow Anesthesia (LFA), Quantitative Neuromuscular Monitoring (QNM), and Manual External Defibrillation, Cardioversion, and Pacing (MEDCP).
• APSF/FAER Mentored Research Training Grant A research grant program providing funding for mentored research training in anesthesia patient safety, co-sponsored with the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER), supporting investigators in advancing the field.
• Investigator Initiated Research (IIR) Grants Research grants supporting investigator-initiated projects focused on anesthesia patient safety outcomes and improvements.
• APSF Stoelting Conference Annual consensus conference bringing together approximately 130 leaders from perioperative professional organizations, industry representatives, and experts to discuss and develop recommendations for anesthesia patient safety issues.
• RAPID Response Rapid response system allowing readers to submit questions and receive expert responses on anesthesia patient safety topics.
• Patient Guide to Anesthesia and Surgery Educational materials helping patients understand anesthesia and surgery procedures, promoting informed patient participation in their care.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 to 20-fold reduction in mortality and catastrophic morbidity for healthy patients undergoing routine anesthetics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered platinum, gold, silver, bronze and core.

• BDplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Level ($60,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) is a global medical technology company. Monty Mythen serves as Senior VP, Scientific Liaison & Professional Education.
• GE HealthcareplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Level ($60,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. GE Healthcare is a leading global medical technology, pharmaceutical diagnostics, and digital solutions innovator. JW Beard, MD serves as Chief Medical Officer, Patient Care Solutions.
• Fresenius KabiplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Level ($60,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Global health care company specializing in lifesaving medicines and technologies for critically and chronically ill patients, offering injectable medicine portfolios for anesthesia providers.
• Blink Device CompanyplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Level ($60,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Medical device company focused on anesthesia-related technology. Justin Hulvershorn, MD serves as CEO.
• SolventumplatinumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Level ($60,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Creates innovative products and services that touch millions of lives, transform patient experience, and save time for healthcare professionals.
• MedtronicgoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level ($40,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Special recognition and thank you for support and funding of the APSF/Medtronic Patient Safety Research Grant ($150,000). Rick Townsend serves as Medical Affairs Program Manager.
• Nihon Kohden AmericagoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level ($40,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Japanese medical device company specializing in patient monitoring solutions. Matt Teflon serves as Senior Director, Marketing Strategy & Innovation.
• Preferred Physicians Medical Risk Retention GroupgoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level ($40,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Medical liability insurance risk retention group. Brian Thomas, JD serves as Vice President, Risk Management.
• Vertex PharmaceuticalsgoldStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level ($40,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Pharmaceutical company focused on pain management. Jai Mehta, MD serves as Medical Director and Chirag Shah, PharmD serves as Sr. Medical Science Liaison, Pain.
• DrägersilverStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Silver Level ($15,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Global medical and safety technology company. David Karchner serves as Director of Marketing, Perioperative Care.
• OctopharmasilverStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Silver Level ($15,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Human protein products company. James Galloway, MD, MBA serves as Senior Director, Acquired Bleeding.
• Surgical DirectionsbronzeStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Bronze Level ($10,000) member of 2026 APSF Partner Collaborative. Healthcare consulting firm specializing in surgical and anesthesia services. Jason Klopotowski, MD serves as Senior Physician Managing Director.
• Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-sponsor of APSF/FAER Mentored Research Training Grant, combining resources to fund anesthesia patient safety research and support career development of patient safety investigators.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding Patron of APSF with $323,000 contribution. ASA provides significant organizational support and collaboration. APSF President Daniel J. Cole, MD serves as contact person. ASA members receive APSF Newsletter via email as a membership benefit.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Quality Forum (NQF): NQF convenes stakeholders to develop quality measures and reports on healthcare safety, including perioperative measures that intersect with APSF's evidence-and-recommendations remit.
• ECRI Institute: ECRI is a major nonprofit patient-safety, evidence-based medicine, and medical device evaluation organization that produces safety guidance and research overlapping with APSF's mission in perioperative device/monitoring safety.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI): IHI absorbed the National Patient Safety Foundation (which itself was modeled on APSF) and is a broader healthcare quality/safety nonprofit with similar convening, education, and standards-setting functions across the full healthcare system.
• American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA): AANA represents CRNAs, a primary stakeholder segment for APSF's multi-disciplinary safety work; it has overlapping patient-safety interests but primarily a professional/membership remit rather than a research-grant and education remit.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA): ASA is APSF's founding patron and professional membership society for anesthesiologists; it operates a broader advocacy/membership remit while APSF focuses specifically on patient safety, making ASA both a partner and a broader incumbent in the same ecosystem.
• Joint Commission: The Joint Commission sets hospital accreditation and patient safety standards that intersect directly with APSF's perioperative safety agenda; both operate as standards-influencing bodies in healthcare quality, but at different scopes (hospital-wide vs. anesthesiology-specific).

Emerging players

• Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA): SPA is a subspecialty anesthesia society that operates patient-safety initiatives and grants in a narrower pediatric population; it intersects with APSF's broader perioperative safety mission and forms part of the same multi-disciplinary network.
• International Society for Anaesthetic Pharmacology (ISAP): ISAP is a specialty anesthesia society focused on anesthetic pharmacology and patient safety research, with adjacent funding/grant mechanisms and overlapping scholarly community in perioperative care.
• Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI): AQI operates the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry (NACOR) and is closely tied to ASA; it overlaps with APSF's emerging Data Dictionary/Outcome Reporting System initiative, making it a partial competitor and likely collaborator in perioperative data infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research (FAER): FAER is a closely affiliated 501(c)(3) that co-sponsors the APSF/FAER Mentored Research Training Grant and shares the anesthesia research mission and funding model, making it the most directly comparable peer to APSF.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apsforg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AnesthesiaPatientSafetyFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/APSForg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anesthesia-patient-safety-foundation-apsf-
• Instagraminstagram.com/apsforg
• TikToktiktok.com/@apsforg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation