Veterinary Patient Safety

Veterinary Patient Safety, 1st Edition presents safety science theory, methodology, and practical applications tailored specifically for animal healthcare environments. Author Matthew McMillan introduces core principles that help veterinary students, general practitioners, board-certified specialists, veterinary nurses, and practice managers analyze how clinical errors occur and how structured systems mitigate risk.

The text systematically categorizes common clinical adverse events, detailing misdiagnosis, medication mistakes, equipment complications, and breakdowns in workplace communication. Beyond direct clinical mechanics, it examines human fallibility in high-pressure environments, the necessity of non-technical skills, and the broader operational impacts of organizational culture and workplace incivility on patient safety.

A primary feature of the text is its integration of real-world examples, published veterinary literature, and cross-disciplinary insights drawn from human healthcare and aviation safety models. This reference offers veterinary teams an evidence-aligned framework for identifying risks, refining operational workflows, and supporting consistent safety standards across practice settings.