Edward Etchells

Dr. Edward Etchells, MD, MSc., F.R.C.P.(C)

Director, Patient Safety Service, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Associate Professor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Etchells obtained his medical degree from University of Toronto in 1987. He completed fellowship training in General Internal Medicine at University of Toronto in 1992, and then undertook a Masters of Science (Clinical Epidemiology) at the University of Toronto, completed in 1994. He was appointed at University of Toronto in 1994 and worked at University Health Network from 1994-2002. Dr. Etchells joined the medical staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in 2002, where he founded the Patient Safety Service. Dr. Etchells is focused on promoting a culture of safety through nonpunitive reporting of close calls and adverse events.
His interests include:

• Promoting a Culture of Safety
• Systematic Investigation of Close Calls and Adverse Events
• Computer Alerting Systems for Detection and Prevention of Adverse Events
• Creating System Changes that Improve Safety

His current research projects include:

• Reducing medication errors at hospital admission, transfer and Discharge
• Real time clinical alerts with decision support

Dr. Etchells is highly regarded as a clinical teacher within the division of General Internal Medicine at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and has received a number of teaching awards.