Patient safety is among one of the highest priorities of health care providers, and for our team at Southwell, we take it seriously. That’s why we are participating in Patient Safety Awareness Week by offering patient safety education to our patients and staff.
Patient Safety Awareness Week is an annual event to encourage learning about health care
safety. The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) launched the first Patient Safety
Awareness Week in 2002 with the initiative to create awareness around the world about the
importance of patient safety.
While we offer continual learning for our employees to learn about different aspects of patient
safety, we will hold a Patient Safety Fair for employees later in the month in honor of Patient
Safety Awareness Week.
Although it is crucial for health care providers to be knowledgeable about patient safety, patients
play a significant role in keeping themselves safe, too.
“The patient is the key member of the care team,” said Andrea Ryland, Patient Safety
Coordinator at Southwell. “For the care team to work properly, the patient must ask questions,
listen to their medical providers, know how to properly use their medications, and understand
and provide feedback to the medical staff.”
Here are some helpful safety tips for patients:
- Read information given to you by your health care team and follow their
recommendations. - Do not be afraid to ask questions when receiving care. Your care team is here to help
you! - Stay up to date with COVID-19 protocols and guidelines by following the CDC website.
- When you’re eligible, talk to your healthcare provider about receiving the COVID-19
vaccine. - Practice proper hand hygiene to prevent the spread of diseases like COVID-19, as well as
other viruses and bacteria that may be harmful. - Learn how you can prevent falls at
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/community_preventfalls.html
For more information about Patient Safety Awareness Week and patient safety visit
http://www.ihi.org/.
