It’s Patient Safety Week- a time to reflect on all of the great patient safety projects and initiatives that have been under way. So many people have done so much to make our hospitals safer and for that I am forever grateful. But this is also a week to look ahead towards an even safer, better health care system. From what I can see, we have come a long way, but the journey is not over yet. There is work to be done.

I’ve heard from nurses and doctors all around the country who are planning on commemorating Patient Safety Week. There will be speeches announcing new safety programs, and ceremonies honoring caregivers who have done remarkable safety work. Patient safety is front and center, and I am excited about that.
Let’s stay invigorated. A few quick hopes of mine:
  • If you are a caregiver, keep focusing on improving how you communicate with your co-workers and patients. Even if your team communicates well, the nature of team work is one of continual change, and it helps to check in every now and then to make sure everything is still working well.
  • If you are a student, keep learning about patient safety and preventing medical errors. Ask your professor or mentor about the changes they have seen with regard to medical errors since they started practicing.
  • If you are a patient or family member, thank your health care team for incorporating patient safety techniques into their daily routine.
I’ll be commemorating Patient Safety Week with a few groups around the country this week. I hope that everybody is able to support Patient Safety Week in a way that is helpful and meaningful for them.
Keep up the good work!
-Sorrel