Dr. Patel is the chief patient safety and clinical risk officer for Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Under his leadership, Los Angeles General Medical Center moved from a Leapfrog “D” rating to a sustained “A,” a turnaround achieved in under two years. Across the system, he implemented just culture and “CANDOR” programs, shifting a decades-old punitive environment into one that encourages transparency and frontline empowerment. This cultural shift has led to a drop in malpractice claims and costs, and widespread improvements in error reporting and response. Dr. Patel personally leads systemwide training and oversees the response process for just culture interpretations, embedding accountability and fairness into organizational DNA.
