Encouraging Improved Patient Safety Practices and Celebrating Successes

Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 14–20, 2021

Patient Safety Awareness Week both acknowledges and celebrates improved safety and care throughout the health system.

Medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States. The World Health Organization estimates that health care errors impact one in every 10 patients globally.

We are part of a national effort working to spread awareness and help health care systems implement the latest patient safety advancements. We’re supporting vital patient safety initiatives that include:

• Properly engaging and empowering patients, caregivers, and providers
• Integrating quality improvement practices
• Collecting and interpreting data

Resources for Patients, Families, and Caregivers

• Share CDC’s 10 safety tips to protect against hospital-acquired infections
• Clean hands count for patients and providers. Share CDC’s hand hygiene guidance.
• Patient safety is everyone’s responsibility. Share CDC’s guidance for patients.

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Resources for Healthcare Providers

• Want to create an exciting patient safety awareness experience for your staff? Make a game of rounding and offer incentives for correct answers.
• Find ways to recognize the patient safety successes in your organization.
• Contact a local radio station to offer a spokesperson to share patient safety tips and highlights in your community.
• Review AHRQ’s top 10 evidence-based tips to prevent adverse events from occurring in your hospital
• Link to patient safety-focused publications or blog posts in your organization’s newsletter:
  • Patient Safety Publications
  • CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog
• Download a toolkit or guide:
  • AHRQ Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
  • NHSN 2021 Patient Safety Component Manual
  • CDC Antibiotic Resistance & Patient Safety Portal