September 17 marks World Patient Safety Day, a global initiative led by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and drive action for safer health care. This year’s theme, “Patient safety from the start!” emphasizes the importance of safe care for newborns and children.

Maintaining diagnostic accuracy is essential to patient safety, and IQMH’s Proficiency Testing programs provide the framework for laboratories to achieve and sustain it. These programs support a wide network of Ontario-based laboratories, with the goal to uphold the highest standards of precision and reliability. IQMH Proficiency Testing enables laboratories to identify and correct errors before patient outcomes are impacted, including pediatric care, where preliminary mistakes can have lasting consequences.

In recognition of World Patient Safety Day, IQMH reaffirms its commitment to empowering laboratories with the tools required to deliver safe and reliable diagnostics. In pediatric health care, diagnostic accuracy and a shared dedication to quality is vital to achieving consistent and safe diagnostic practices for children.

Learn more about the World Health Organization's intiative, World Patient Safety Day 2025.