In Finland, the Ministry of Social affairs and Health has launched the Finnish Patient
Safety Strategy for the years 2009–2013 (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, 2009).
The strategy identifies elements that deserve to be considered by health care organisations
in managing safety. For this reason it can be considered as a safety management
model. This strategy aims at guiding Finnish social and health care to adopt a uniform
patient safety culture and at promoting its implementation. The strategy’s vision is that
patient safety “will be embedded in the structure and methods of working: care and
treatment is effective and safe”. It is worth noting that the strategy – or the safety management
model – refers to patient safety as a systemic phenomenon, and acknowledges
that attention should be shifted from individuals to the “service system”.