Our Mission
We unite stakeholders to champion patient safety, eliminate preventable harm, and accelerate improvements in safety to impact quality across healthcare.
Our Vision
We envision a future where healthcare is safe and equitable for every patient, family member, and healthcare worker, across the care continuum.
Value Proposition
We serve patients, families, and the healthcare workforce by leveraging our collective expertise, advancing safety science, fostering system-wide learning, and empowering organizations to achieve meaningful, lasting outcomes.
Strategic Priorities
The field of patient safety stands at a pivotal crossroads, shaped by persistent systemic issues, rapid technological advancements, and intensifying regulatory demands. Healthcare organizations face mounting pressures on time and resources, as payment models evolve at both state and national levels. At the same time, the field has made significant strides in understanding safety science and harnessing technology to improve care. These dynamics, alongside the need to anticipate the unexpected, call for a future-focused and agile approach to strategic planning. With this in mind, the MPSC’s Strategy 2030 plan introduces three strategic priorities are designed to strengthen the organization and amplify its impact.
ALIGN
a larger ecosystem on patient safety
ADVOCATE
to promote knowledge-sharing and collaboration
ADVANCE
patient safety science, and innovation and address common challenges
Our Story
The Maryland Patient Safety Center was established in response to legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly, directed the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) to designate an organization as the state’s patient safety center. In 2004, following a competitive selection process, the MHCC designated the Maryland Patient Safety Center — a collaborative initiative originally developed by the Maryland Hospital Association and the Delmarva Foundation — as the state’s official patient safety center.
Initially operated by the Maryland Hospital Association and the Delmarva Foundation, MPSC became an independent, incorporated nonprofit organization in 2007. A voluntary Board of Directors has guided the organization’s strategy ever since.
State re-designation has been continually renewed by the Maryland Healthcare Commission, with current designation in place through June 2027. In addition, MPSC was one of the first 25 organizations in the nation to be recognized as a Patient Safety Organization (PSO) by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), under the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005.
In 2025, the Maryland Patient Safety Center adopted the Mid-Atlantic regional branding that was originally envisioned when our Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Organization (MAPSO) was created, reflecting our continued commitment to a broader regional impact while remaining anchored in Maryland. The newly branded Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center serves hospitals and healthcare organizations outside Maryland that are increasingly looking to collaborate on shared safety challenges. Today, MPSC continues to unite stakeholders statewide to improve patient safety and healthcare quality, while expanding its reach and impact across the region.
MPSC Timeline of Milestones and Key Initiatives
A look back at the pivotal moments, achievements, and initiatives that have shaped MPSC’s journey to advancing patient safety and healthcare quality across the region.
2001
In 2001, the Maryland General Assembly passed the “Patients’ Safety Act,” which tasked the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC)—in consultation with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene—with studying the feasibility of a system to reduce preventable medical errors and establish a reporting system.
2003
Established by the Maryland Legislature. Legislation enabled an existing or proposed entity to operate as an officially recognized patient safety body with legal protections.
2004
MPSC was named the state patient safety center by the Maryland Healthcare Commission.
2005
Created the Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Organization (PSO), becoming one of the first federally listed PSOs.
2006
Began oversight of the Perinatal Neonatal Quality Collaborative (PNQC) with funding from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
2009
Launched Safe from Falls Collaborative, providing toolkits, education, and consultation.
Launched Safer Sign Out Initiative, strengthening ED handoffs with the Emergency Medicine Patient Safety Foundation.
2011–2014
Maryland Hospital Hand Hygiene Collaborative initiated and led 44 acute care hospitals and one specialty hospital. Sustained >90% compliance with hand hygeine for 12 consecutive months.
2014–2017
Launched Improving Sepsis Survival Initiative, in partnership with the Maryland Hospital Association, focused on early sepsis recognition and care coordination.
2015–2018
Launched Safely Reduce Primary Cesarean Sections Collaborative, as the first state to implement the AIM bundle.
2016–2018
Partnered with Vermont Oxford Network (VON) to launch the Standardizing Care and Treatment of NAS.
Launched Clean Collaborative (LTC), focused on improved disinfection and HAI prevention in long-term care.
2020–2021
COVID-19 Response: Continued learning through webinars, resource sharing, and collaborative forums.
2021
Received $1M in funding from the Maryland State Legislature.
2022–2024
Appointed as administrator of the Maryland Maternal Mortality Review Team and developed secure electronic workflows to improve case review efficiency. Partnered with the Maryland Hospital Association to launch BIRTH Equity Maryland.
2023
Partnered with Count the Kicks to support statewide fetal movement education, ensuring over 80% of hospitals and health departments had multilingual materials. Established the Perinatal and Neonatal Quality and Safety Fellowship and welcomed the first cohort.
2024
Hosted the Maternal Mortality Summit. Launched the Perinatal Debriefing Initiative in collaboration with MDMOM, the Workplace Violence Campaign “It Takes Patients,” and the Trauma Responsive Nurse Leaders program. Convened statewide urgent care leaders for Lochlin’s Law in Urgent Care to address pediatric sepsis protocols, EHR integration, caregiver education, and transfer processes.
2025
Launched Maryland Steps Forward to improve fall prevention using post-fall huddles and analysis.
Initiated the Perinatal Proactive Medication Safety Risk Assessment Collaborative to proactively address medication safety risks in obstetric care.
Maryland Patient Safety Center expands its services to be the Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center.
Meet the Staff
Stephanie Peditto, MHS
President and CEO
Stephanie Peditto, MHS is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in patient safety and healthcare quality, currently serving as the President and CEO of the Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center. She brings decades of experience building safety programs, advancing clinical quality, and supporting frontline healthcare teams through policy, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
Previously, Stephanie held leadership roles at the College of American Pathologists and the American Academy of Dermatology, where she led regulatory advocacy on digital health, AI, and pandemic preparedness, and oversaw national quality registries. During her 25-year tenure at Johns Hopkins Medicine, she held operational and innovation leadership positions, and led global patient safety initiatives for the Armstrong Institute. She also served on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, teaching healthcare delivery and clinical improvement.
Adriane Burgess, PhD, RNC-OB, C-ONQS
Senior Director of Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality
Adriane Burgess, PhD, RNC-OB, CCE, CPHQ, C-ONQS, C-LSSGB, C-EFM, FAWHONN, is a seasoned healthcare quality and safety leader with over 25 years of experience advancing evidence-based practices and reducing harm across health systems. At the Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center, she brings deep expertise in using data-driven strategies to support frontline teams, inform leadership decisions, and drive organizational performance.
Before joining MPSC, Dr. Burgess held diverse roles in clinical care, nursing leadership, and academia. She earned her BSN from Villanova University, MSN from Drexel University, and PhD in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Board certified in inpatient obstetrics, healthcare quality, and obstetric and neonatal quality and safety, she has led statewide and national improvement efforts grounded in high-reliability principles and a strong commitment to equity and patient- and family-centered care.
Jacqueline Hartford, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, CPPS
Program Manager
Jacqueline Hartford, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, CPPS, is a patient safety leader at the Mid-Atlantic Patient Safety Center, where she supports hospitals statewide in advancing medication safety and systems improvement. She brings extensive experience in high-acuity clinical settings and a strong commitment to collaborative learning and cross-institutional engagement.
Prior to joining MPSC, Jacqueline served as the Medication Safety Officer at LifeBridge Health and practiced for many years as an emergency department pharmacist. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy from Midwestern University and completed post-graduate residency training in critical care. Board certified in pharmacotherapy and critical care pharmacy, and a Certified Professional in Patient Safety, Jacqueline is passionate about improving medication use processes and mentoring healthcare teams to enhance safe, effective care.
Sarah O’Connor
Administrative Director
Sarah O’Connor is an experienced healthcare quality and research professional with over 12 years of work in medical specialty societies, advancing clinical excellence and patient-centered care. She has led nationwide clinical data registry operations, driving data-informed quality improvement and supporting regulatory compliance and reporting.
Sarah’s expertise includes developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, creating patient education tools to support shared decision-making, and managing grant programs to align with strategic goals. Known for her collaborative leadership and commitment to evidence-based improvement, she brings a strong focus on using data and best practices to improve health outcomes across diverse care settings
Board of Directors
Strategic leadership from respected healthcare professionals and safety advocates.
