WORLD PATIENT SAFETY DAY, 2023
WORLD PATIENT SAFETY DAY 2023: ENGAGING PATIENTS FOR PATIENT SAFETY
The World Health Assembly in May 2019, agreed to set aside the 17th of September of every year as World Patient Safety day. The theme for this year is “Engaging Patients for Patient Safety”. Patient safety is the avoidance of unintended or unexpected harm to people during the provision of healthcare. It is a fundamental principle of healthcare and is now being recognized as a large and growing global public health challenge. Patient safety is preventing harm to patients during healthcare. It is a complex issue involving many factors, including healthcare systems, professionals, and patients. Patient safety is a fundamental right, all patients deserve to be safe. Adverse events, or errors in healthcare settings, can have devastating consequences for patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 1 in every 10 patients is harmed in healthcare and more than 3 million deaths occur annually due to unsafe care.
Common causes of patient harm
- Medication errors
- Communication errors
- Medical errors
- Diagnostic errors
- System failures
- Surgical errors
- Patient falls
- Unsafe transfusion, e.t.c.
How can we improve patient safety?
There are a number of things that can be done to improve patient safety, including:
- Creating a culture of safety: This means creating a workplace environment where healthcare professionals feel comfortable reporting errors and near misses.
- Implementing safety systems and processes: This includes things like checklists, double-checks, and computerized drug dispensing systems.
- Educating healthcare professionals: Healthcare professionals need to be trained on patient safety principles and practices.
- Empowering patients: Patients need to be informed about their care and have a voice in their own safety.
What can patients do to improve their own safety?
There are a number of things that patients can do to improve their own safety in healthcare settings including:
- Be informed about your care: Ask questions about your diagnosis, treatment plan, and medications.
- Speak up if you have any concerns: Don’t be afraid to speak up if you have any concerns about your care.
- Bring a family member or friend with you to appointments: This can help you to understand your care and make decisions about your treatment.
- Review your medical records: This can help you to identify any errors or omissions in your records.
At EnabilityOt, patient safety is a top priority for us. We are very intentional about the safety of our patients, we have adequate safety measures in place to ensure constant safety at all times. You can reach us at info@enabilityot.com for more info and enquiries.