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Patient Safety Awareness Week

The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) is again inviting hospitals and healthcare organizations around the world to join in Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 4-10, 2012. This international education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety at the local level encourages events that educate patients on how to become involved in their own health care. The week is also meant to foster partnership activities between hospitals and their patient communities.

The 2012 theme, Be Aware for Safe Care, stresses how important it is for every member of the healthcare team, from patients to providers, to be aware of healthcare safety and to take steps to participate in efforts to keep patients everywhere safe from medical harms.

Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) across the Military Health System have a history of enthusiastically celebrating Patient Safety Awareness Week. In year’s past, activities have included games like patient safety Jeopardy and Poker, poster contests, patient-centered displays and handouts, school visits, radio shows and articles explaining patient safety. This year, MTFs are again encouraged to observe Patient Safety Awareness Week. A long list of activities for Patients and Families, as well as for Hospitals, Healthcare Organizations and Staff is available, as is the Patient Safety Awareness Week logo, and a free Patient Safety Awareness Week Toolkit available to Stand Up for Patient Safety members.

Toolkits for 2012 will include valuable resources for increasing awareness of patient safety and for implementing a successful PSAW campaign.

The 2012 PSAW Toolkit includes:

    • 100 Promotional Buttons
    • 100 Promotional Stickers (1 roll)
    • 50 Educational Brochures
    • 50 Table Tent Cards
    • 50 Educational Bookmarks
    • 30 Promotional Posters
    • 25 Promotional Pens
    • 1 CD ROM with educational materials, including suggested
       activities for commencing the week
    • 1 Membership Recognition Plaque

Additional patient safety tools and resources can be ordered through the NPSF Store.

Click here to learn more on how your organization can join the celebration by implementing ideas from the list of activities. Be a part of the celebration and commitment to safe health care by encouraging and stengthening collaboration between patients, familes, and healthcare providers.