Making cognitive safety standard care
We’re leading a global research initiative to reduce cognitive harm in medicine—protecting trust, clarity, and dignity for every patient, everywhere.
We’re leading a global research initiative to reduce cognitive harm in medicine—protecting trust, clarity, and dignity for every patient, everywhere.
The Limitless Foundation leads the global initiative to reduce cognitive harm in medical care. Our research explores clinical communication styles, systemic design flaws, reimbursement models, and power dynamics contribute to psychological injury in care.
Building on harm-reduction principles from public health and psychology, it addresses an often-ignored dimension of care: how clinical interactions themselves can cause harm. By redefining those practices collaboratively, we can make medical care safer, more effective, and more accountable.
Join us as we build a future where cognitive safety is recognized as essential to quality healthcare; improving outcomes, equity, and trust for all.
Our research is powered by collaboration with leading organizations dedicated to making cognitive safety a measurable standard in healthcare. Together, we’re building a future where every patient’s clarity, trust, and dignity are protected.
Patient safety has long focused on physical injury, but cognitive harm; the preventable damage done when clinicians dismiss, minimize, or misinterpret a patient’s experience, remains largely unmeasured. It erodes trust, distorts understanding, and drives poorer outcomes across every level of care.
Research shows that the quality of communication directly shapes recovery: clear, empathetic dialogue builds trust and adherence, while rushed or invalidating interactions create distress and disengagement.
Clear and empathetic communication improves trust, adherence, and emotional well-being, while dismissive or overwhelming interactions increase distress and undermine recovery.
The Cognitive Harm Reduction Initiative is dedicated to advancing healthcare practices through its research findings. The initiative's core research priorities include:
Ultimately, the initiative aspires to integrate cognitive safety as a fundamental aspect of quality care through the establishment of comprehensive training and certification programs.
The initiative aims to formalize cognitive safety as a measurable and improvable component of quality care through comprehensive training and certification programs. By establishing clear metrics and benchmarks, healthcare providers can systematically assess and enhance their communication strategies, ensuring that cognitive safety is prioritized alongside physical safety. This approach not only fosters a more supportive environment for patients but also empowers clinicians with the tools and knowledge needed to recognize and mitigate cognitive harm effectively.
Our research initiative is built on four foundational pillars that make cognitive safety measurable, actionable, and central to quality care. Each pillar advances safer, more human-centered healthcare—grounded in evidence, clarity, and collaboration.
We define and track cognitive harm using research-based metrics, making invisible risks visible and actionable for care teams.
Clinician tools reduce overload, foster trust, and support patient understanding—improving outcomes for everyone.
Guided tools help patients navigate complex care, supporting mental clarity, emotional integration, and confident choices.
We partner with systems and policymakers to embed cognitive safety into training, certification, and care delivery at every level.
Join applied research to advance cognitive safety.
Work with leaders shaping measurable standards.
Help set new norms for safer care.
Explore key concepts, research insights, and ways to advance cognitive safety in healthcare.
