When healthcare practitioners and organizations put safety first, everyone benefits. The United in Patient Safety campaign culminates each year with Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 8-14, designed to mark a dedicated time and a platform to increase awareness about patient safety among health professionals and the public. One goal of the week is to bring together and engage health care professionals and patients to help spread this important message.
At Helen Newberry Joy Hospital, we are committed to promoting safe and high-quality health care with a goal of zero patient harm. We are proud to celebrate Patient Safety Awareness Week and will have posters on display created by hospital departments and File of Life packets available both in the lobby for the public. File of Life provides medical information of allergies, medications and more to emergency medical providers in the event of an emergency. The information is contained in a magnetic packet that can go on your fridge. It allows first responders to immediately begin the best possible treatment, notify loved ones, and pass this vital data on to awaiting providers at the emergency room when seconds count. Stickers are also provided that go on entry points of the home to signal to first responders to find the File of Life Packet.
We all have a role to play in keeping patients and those who care for them safe. “Patient Safety Awareness Week reminds us of our long-standing commitment to providing the safest care possible to every patient, every day,” said Kena Nicholson, HNJH Quality and Accreditation Manager.
For more information about Patient Safety Awareness Week, visit the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s website at www.ihi.org.