This is Patient Safety Awareness Week, when the nation focuses on keeping patients safe from harm while they are treated. Get involved, get trained, and learn about medication safety.
Wantagh, NY, March 14, 2016 (Newswire.com) - This year the National Patient Safety Foundation is kicking off its United for Patient Safety campaign, which will highlight and reinforce the message that everyone within the health care system has a role to play in keeping patients safe and free from harm.
Ilene Corina, President of Long Island-based patient safety education and advocacy group PULSE of NY, says, “PULSE of NY is pleased to support Patient Safety Awareness Week and this campaign in particular. Despite many efforts to improve patient safety in recent years, harm caused to patients while they’re undergoing care is still far too common. Most healthcare professionals recognize the problem, but few patients or their families understand that we can give them tools to help improve their treatment outcomes. This campaign will certainly help, but practical training such as PULSE of NY’s patient safety advocacy courses, is even more important.”
"We can give them tools to help improve their treatment outcomes."
Ilene Corina, President, PULSE of NY
What you can do
Here are some ways the National Patient Safety Foundation suggests getting involved.
For healthcare consumers: http://www.unitedforpatientsafety.org/health_care_consumers.
For healthcare professionals: http://www.unitedforpatientsafety.org/health_care_professionals.
On Tuesday, March 15, from 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Eastern Time, the National Patient Safety Foundation will host a Twitter Chat on “Safety in all Settings.” The chat is part of Patient Safety Awareness Week activities. The week runs March 13-19, 2016. Join the chat with the hashtag #PSAW16chat. More information on the topic is available at http://bit.ly/psaw16chat.
Patients and families can be involved in other ways, says Corina. “How do you choose a hospital? Pick up the phone this week and ask your local hospitals how they are involving patients in patient safety. Ask them what they are doing for Patient Safety Awareness Week!”
Ills from Pills
Medications, so important in modern healthcare, are a common cause of harm to patients. PULSE will host its 3d annual Patient Safety Symposium on April 18, 2016 in Plainview, NY. Its subject: Medication Safety: It Starts Before the Prescription. It will bring together healthcare professionals, patient safety experts and members of the public to discuss the latest in ways to prevent medication errors and misuse. All are invited and encouraged to attend. Details and registration at http://www.pulseofny.org.
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