MDG participates in Patient Safety Week

  • Published
  • By By Senior Airman Trevor Rhynes
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- --  The 22nd Medical Group recently announced its participation in the 2015 Patient Safety Awareness Week campaign.

Patient Safety Awareness Week runs from March 8 - 14, and is an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety led by the National Patient Safety Foundation. Each year, health care organizations around the world take part in the event, creating awareness in their community and among their staff.

This year's theme, United in Safety, highlights how everyone in the health care process plays a role in delivering safe care and that by uniting together and sharing that common goal, they can make a difference in patient safety. Patients, care providers, the patient and family advocate and the corporate solutions provider unite together in the goal of keeping patients and those who care for them free from harm.

The 22nd MDG will engage staff, patients and the community through educational and awareness-building activities specific to patient safety science and practice.

"The 22nd MDG is actively engaged in patient safety initiatives on a daily basis," said Dawn Clifton, 22nd MDG patient safety manager. "During this campaign, our goal is to recapture our patients as stake holders in their health care. By engaging our patients fully, we become better communicators, which lead to safer care and better outcomes. United in Safety, reminds us that we are all working together for the common goal."

The 22nd MDG tailored their program after the national campaigns goal to spread the word to as many people as possible.

"NPSF is very focused on bringing all stakeholders together to help advance patient safety," said Tejal K. Gandhi, NPSF president. "The year's theme reflects the need to continue to raise awareness of patient safety among those working in health care settings as well as among patients, families and the general public. We are putting a particular emphasis this year on efforts to increase patient engagement--health care professionals, researchers, and policy makers must partner with patients to achieve the safest care."

Enhanced communication begins with an informed and engaged patient and helps to lead to safer care.

For additional information on Patient Safety Awareness Week, visit www.npsf.org/psaw, or call the medical group at (316) 759 - 5004.

Information from a NSPF release was used in this story.