This year we celebrated Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPSW) 2022 from October 24–28, with the theme “Press play on Safety Conversations”. It focused on safer care of older adults through safety conversations and actions, and encouraged healthcare professionals to think differently about safety, and to ask questions, listen, and act accordingly.
Everyone wants and deserves safe care, however, that is not a reality for all Canadians. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed existing gaps in both care and equity. With health systems across the country under strain, the risk of unintended harm grows. The focus on patient and healthcare provider safety is needed more now than ever.
Safety conversations are respectful discussions between two or more people involved in organizing, delivering, seeking, and/or receiving care, including healthcare workers, patients, residents, clients, and essential care partners. These conversations are an important step in building a positive patient safety culture, eliminating incidents of unintended harm, and acting on and learning from errors.
Together we can create safety. Ask, listen, and act.
Learn more about safety and how you can get involved in improving healthcare quality and safety, not only during Patient Safety Week, but every day: https://www.healthcareexcellence.ca/en/what-we-do/allprograms/canadian-patient-safety-week/press-play-on-safety-conversations/.