By the EHR Association Patient Safety Workgroup

As the 2026 Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 8-14) theme, Team Up for Patient Safety, reminds us, advancing safety requires teamwork—and today, that team includes AI.

For EHR and other health IT developers, AI represents a powerful opportunity to strengthen the safety net that clinicians rely on every day. When thoughtfully designed, AI can help detect risks earlier, reduce manual errors, and transform safety event data into actionable insights. But the real impact comes from collaboration. AI is most effective when paired with human expertise, transparent design, and strong governance. By building AI tools that support clinical judgment rather than replace it, vendors can help create safer, more resilient care environments.