Final answer:
Patient safety primarily involves eliminating medical errors and preventable harm in health care. The shift from fee-for-service models to HMOs and managed care, as well as reforms like the ACA, are measures taken to improve patient safety and health care quality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patient safety refers to the prevention of errors and adverse effects to patients associated with health care. While there are many factors in providing high-quality health care, eliminating medical error and preventable harm is paramount. To achieve this, the health care system often employs various strategies, one of which is shifting from a traditional fee-for-service model to a focus on health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and managed care.
Under fee-for-service, providers are compensated based on the quantity of care they deliver, which could potentially create a moral hazard where providers offer more services than necessary. In contrast, HMOs provide a fixed payment per person, which incentivizes providers to focus on the efficiency and necessity of care, potentially reducing unnecessary procedures and focusing on patient well-being.
Additionally, legislative measures like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) aimed at improving accessibility and affordability of care, as well as reducing health disparities, contribute to the overall safety and quality of patient care. Thus, while patient safety does align closely with eliminating medical errors, the broader context includes efforts to improve healthcare quality, affordability, and equity.