“Strengthens patients’ voices!”
Vienna (OTS) – Studies show that significant advances in patient safety and health outcomes occur when patients are recognized as partners in their care.
September 17th was declared International Patient Safety Day by the World Health Organization (WHO) and this year is dedicated to the themes of patient involvement and safety.
International studies show that around one in ten people treated as patients in a healthcare facility suffers harm. At least 50% of these damages are preventable. The impact of “patient engagement” on maintaining patient safety is considerable: its implementation can reduce the burden of harm by 15%. This means that countless lives can be saved every year.
Furthermore, significant expenses are saved, which are urgently needed in the healthcare system. This is why the participation of patients and their families has been anchored in the Global Action Plan for Patient Safety 2021-2030. This year’s global WHO Patient Safety Day campaign focuses on patient participation under the motto “Engaging patients for patient safety”.
Katharina Reich, Head of Section VII of Public Health and Healthcare System: “Improving the quality of the healthcare system has always been a major concern of mine. That’s why I’m actively committed to increasing patient participation during treatment. The positive effects of “patient empowerment” range from optimizing the quality of treatment to improving people’s health literacy. I am convinced that we can improve the quality of the healthcare system through the active participation of patients. This year’s WHO motto hits the nail on the head, because responsible and committed patients strengthen themselves and the system at the same time.”
Collaboration and common focus on DA-CH
In the DA-CH area, the Austrian Platform for Patient Safety, with its sister organizations Aktionsbündnis Patient Safety in Germany and the Patient Safety Switzerland Foundation, organized the week of action around World Patient Safety Day under the motto “Safety . For patients. With patients.” Brigitte Ettl, former medical director of the Hietzing Clinic and president of the Austrian Platform for Patient Safety: “The slogan of this year’s action week emphasizes that involving patients in their treatment and involving their families increases their protection and lead to better results lead to the offer. This communication measure between patients and families is also anchored in the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 for patient safety and will be highlighted this year.”
Communicative support: “Lights on for patient safety”
To visually highlight International Patient Safety Day, well-known buildings, monuments and healthcare facilities around the world will be illuminated in orange. Lighting activities and campaigns in Austria are noted on an interactive map; This year, initiatives were presented from all federal states. A screen protector has also been designed that can be used on Patient Safety Day on September 17th. Anna Teufel, head of the office, recalls the actions of recent years: “Since the implementation of International Patient Safety Day, we have taken advantage of this date every year to focus on the safety of patients and staff in many healthcare units across the country to call attention to this topic. We are literally turning on the light for patient safety by having healthcare facilities paint their facades orange and thus bringing the issue into the public discourse.”
The platform meeting will take place on October 13, 2023
The platform’s annual conference also follows the Patient Safety Day motto: “Safety. For patients. With patients.” faithful. Particular focus is also on Goal 4 of the WHO Global Action Plan for Patient Safety 2021-2030, the engagement of patients and their families and technical support in patient care.
As in previous years, there will be informative talks and interesting discussions in which a wide range of healthcare professionals will be able to share their contributions. A hybrid form of event allows many interested parties to participate. The event will normally take place in cooperation with the Vienna Health Association and the Institute for Ethics and Law in Medicine.
The objective of the event is to promote dialogue on current developments and measures and increase society’s awareness of the topic. To implement these intentions, the Austrian Patient Safety Prize 2023 and, for the first time, the Journalist Prize of the Austrian Patient Safety Platform will be awarded during the conference.
Participation in the conference is free; you can sign up via email
office@plattform Patientensicherheit.at is mandatory, however. The platform would like to thank this year’s conference sponsors, Deloitte, Medtronic and Zühlke.
About the platform:
The Austrian Platform for Patient Safety is an independent national network that promotes patient and employee safety. We strive to prevent preventable suffering and harm in the healthcare system. The focus of our work is research, project coordination, networking and information.
Questions and contact:
Mag. Bosko Skoko
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 0699/1 405 78 49