In the search for new and better drugs and therapies, it is often forgotten that medical care is probably the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. Some experts have asserted that reducing preventable harms by 50 percent would save more lives than curing all cancers. This course will explore the most common causes of medical harm and will review current and proposed approaches to improving medical quality. The course contains active and interactive learning activities and will systematically survey the current major medical quality initiatives. (ALS 480)