Ensuring patient safety is a top priority for healthcare providers worldwide. That’s why Patient Safety Awareness Week, taking place March 9-15 this year, deserves recognition across every facet of the medical industry.
To celebrate such an important week, a wide variety of tools and resources can be used to effectively and efficiently conduct a successful Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW), and we’re here to outline some of the best.
The Importance of PSAW
Despite great strides in medical advancements, healthcare professionalism, and overall patient safety, the results are still not good enough. Unfortunately, medical harm is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 2.6 million deaths occur each year in low and middle-income countries due to a strong lack of patient safety and care. Additionally, as many as 250,000 to 400,000 deaths occur each year in the United States alone.
As of 2022, 50% of overall preventable harm cases come from medication errors.
Patient safety is crucial because, without it, lives are unnecessarily lost or mistreated.
5 Ways to Celebrate
The great thing about recognizing Patient Safety Awareness Week is that there are endless methods to show support, get involved, and spread awareness—there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate!
Across the world, PSAW is being celebrated in interesting, effective ways. The following activities have been successfully implemented by reputable medical institutions and healthcare organizations, ensuring their effectiveness. Here are just a few of the many outstanding ways you can celebrate Patient Safety Awareness Week:
Interactive talks from experts
Used at Dell Seton Medical Center, Texas
Hosting talks is a valuable and engaging method to learn about best practices in patient safety from experts in the field.
These discussions can cover a wide range of important topics, including wellness, the costs of care, and health equity, providing both educational insights and an enjoyable learning experience.
Trivia events
Used at Centrastate Medical Center, New Jersey
What better way to engage healthcare professionals than by testing their knowledge of patient safety with intriguing trivia questions?
To boost participation, offer staff the chance to win prizes or enter raffles. The ultimate trivia champion will be generously rewarded for their expertise in patient safety, making learning both fun and rewarding.
Safety fairs and poster contests
Used at Kootenai Health, Idaho
Hosting a safety fair that encourages hands-on learning and engagement is a fantastic way to raise awareness about PSAW and promote patient safety.
To make an even greater impact, consider enhancing the event—or even replacing it—with a dynamic poster contest that inspires employees to showcase their passion for patient safety practices.
Patient information booth
Used at Rotunda Hospital, Ireland
Setting up a patient information booth is a meaningful way to acknowledge the patients that healthcare organizations and hospitals are dedicated to protecting.
A booth provides patients with the opportunity to ask questions about their care and gain valuable insights into the hospital’s safety measures. It also educates them on best practices they can follow to support healthcare staff in ensuring their safety, fostering a collaborative approach to patient well-being.
Sharing lessons learned
Used at King Fhad Hopsital Hosuf, Saudi Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
While fun and engagement are key aspects of a successful PSAW, it’s equally important to have meaningful discussions about improving patient safety—even when those conversations may be uncomfortable. Quality and patient safety staff can foster a culture of learning by openly sharing stories of honest mistakes and the lessons learned from them.
If past incidents have been reported, this is an opportunity to review them in a thoughtful, constructive manner. These discussions should always be approached with kindness and compassion, focusing on improving patient safety rather than placing blame.
Patients Come First
Regardless of the methods you use to celebrate Patient Safety Awareness Week, always remember to put your patients first. Patients trust their healthcare providers to be reliable and administer safe care, so don’t let them down!
By celebrating and spreading awareness of Patient Safety Awareness Week, you can actively create a safer environment for patients and healthcare staff everywhere. Have fun celebrating!
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