September 17 marks the World Health Organization (WHO) international initiative, World Patient Safety Day, dedicated to raising awareness about patient safety and promoting actions to improve healthcare practices. This year's theme, "Engaging Patients for Patient Safety," emphasizes the crucial role patients play in ensuring their own safety, and highlights the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and empowerment in healthcare settings.

Not only are healthcare providers responsible for patient safety, but patients too are essential partners in their care journey. Empowering patients with knowledge, information, and the confidence to actively engage in their healthcare decisions contributes significantly to reducing errors and improving overall healthcare outcomes.

Healthcare professionals can ensure patients are informed of their rights and responsibilities, promote patient and family engagement for safer care, educate patients and their families on health issues, and maintain a continued dialogue to build their confidence and satisfaction.

Patients, families, and their caregivers can take an active role in their care by asking questions, making their concerns heard, deciding on treatment plans in consultation with the healthcare team, and sharing experiences and ideas on how to make care safer for themselves and others.

By engaging patients, we promote a culture of safety, open communication, and collaboration that ultimately leads to better outcomes and reduced medical errors. As we observe World Patient Safety Day, IQMH reaffirms our commitment to patient-centered care, through our rigorous, objective, third-party evaluation in diagnostic testing.

Learn more about WHO and World Patient Safety Day 2023.