What is World Patient Safety Day?
Recognizing patient safety as a global health priority, all 194 WHO Member States at the 72nd World Health Assembly, in May 2019, endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day (Resolution WHA72.6), to be marked annually on 17 September.
The objectives of World Patient Safety Day are to increase public awareness and engagement, enhance global understanding, and spur global solidarity and action to promote patient safety. Each year, a new theme is selected to highlight a priority patient safety area where action is needed to reduce avoidable harm in health care and achieve universal health coverage.
A diagnosis identifies a patient’s health problem. To reach a diagnosis, patients and their health care teams must work together to navigate the complex and sometimes lengthy diagnostic process. It involves discussion with the patient, examination, testing and review of results before reaching the final diagnosis and treatment. Errors can occur at any stage and can have significant consequences. Delayed, incorrect or missed diagnosis can prolong illness and sometimes cause disability or even death.
The theme for this year’s World Patient Safety Day’s is focused on improving diagnosis for patient safety, using the slogan “Get it right, make it safe!”. On the day, patients and families, health workers, health care leaders, policy makers and civil society will emphasize the pivotal role of correct and timely diagnosis in improving patient safety.
Theme:
Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety
Call for action:
Get it right, make it safe!
WHO OFFICIAL WEBPAGE - https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/world-patient-safety-day-2024
ISQua has joined forces with four leading healthcare organisations for WPSD2024
World Patient Safety Day is a time to raise awareness and commit to making healthcare safer.
Continuing our collaboration from 2022, we have joined forces with other international organisations, GS1 Healthcare, the International Hospital Federation (IHF), the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP), and the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO), to help spread the word on World Patient Safety Day, and promote patient safety globally.
Patient safety is about ensuring accurate diagnosis and the right care at the right time, preventing harm, and always prioritising patients. Through collaboration between all five partners in this joint initiative, we aim to raise awareness, share best practices, and advocate for policies that enhance patient safety.
On the 17th September, we will be sharing quotes from leaders from each of five consortium members, in the hope that through collaboration we can raise awareness, share best practices, and advocate for policies that enhance patient safety.
Join us in this collaborative effort. Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas on how we can improve diagnosis for patient safety. Use the hashtags #WPSD24 to be part of the conversation.
Together, we can make healthcare safer.
A Selection of Recordings from our Fellowship Programme on Diagnostic Safety
Misdiagnosis with Dr Dubhfeasa Slattery
Electronic Health Records & Diagnostic Errors From Challenges to Opportunities with Dr Hardeep Singh
Diagnostic Safety - Addressing Diagnostic Error The New Imperative with Dr Mark Graber
ISQua's Specialist Certificate - Introduction to Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
About the course
This course provides essential insights and overviews on all aspects of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety.
Who is it for?
This course is specifically designed for those who want to improve quality and patient safety across all aspects of healthcare.
Languages Available: English, Türkçe
Course information
- Duration: 12 months (from date of enrolment)
- Fully online course
- Continuous assessment (no final exam)
- Certificate awarded upon completion
- Discounted registration fee for ISQua Members
Regular cost: €75 - €175 (non-Members) / €50 - €100 (Members). Costs are country-dependent.
Participants from low-income countries can access the course free by signing up as an ISQua Friend.
WPSD Activities from Around the World
17th September - Webinar: Improving diagnosis for patient safety in medical imaging
Tuesday, 17 September 2024
12:00 – 13:30 CET | Online
The webinar aims to raise global awareness of errors in diagnosis contributing to patient harm and emphasize the pivotal role of correct, timely and safe diagnosis in improving patient safety. It will bring together NGOs in official relations with WHO involved in radiation safety and medical imaging. Furthermore, the WHA76.5 resolution on Strengthening Diagnostics Capacity that calls for safe use of diagnostic imaging procedures, and the IAEA’s perspective on quality in medical imaging to prevent errors and ensure patient safety will be presented.
The panelists will discuss their strategies for improving diagnosis for patient safety and how their organizations can foster collaboration with policymakers, health care leaders, health workers, patients, and other stakeholders in advancing correct, timely and safe diagnosis.
This webinar is organized by WHO with contributions from the IAEA, and the following NGOs in official relations with WHO: ICNIRP, ICRP, IOMP, ISR, ISRRT, RAD-AID, WFNMB and WFUMB.
17th September - Webinar: Increasing Patient Safety Outcomes by Addressing Diagnostic Issues
Tuesday, 17 September 2024
10:00 AM ET | Online | English + French Simultaneous Interpreter
Did you know that most people will suffer a diagnostic error in their lifetime? (Singh H, Meyer AN, Thomas EJ.)
This webinar for World Patient Safety Day aligns with the WHO mission to raise global awareness about improving diagnosis for patient safety. This webinar aims to enhance understanding and awareness of the critical role that accurate and timely diagnosis plays in patient safety. Through expert insights and lived experiences, we aim to equip people with the knowledge and strategies needed to improve diagnostic accuracy, thereby ensuring better health outcomes and safer patient care.
Key Topics:
- Navigating Diagnostics: Strategies and solutions to enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient safety outcomes.
- Care Transitions: Best practices and research for managing integrated care transitions to ensure continuity of patient care.
- Future of Diagnostics: Advances to health care that benefit patient care, including improved diagnoses and treatments.
Recording: Diagnostic Safety, Complexity, and Teams
Recorded on 21 Aug 2024
Diagnostic Safety, Complexity, and Teams with Dr. Carsten Engel, CEO of ISQua (International Society for Quality in Health Care).
Under the patronage of Shefa Al-Orman Oncology Hospital in Egypt.
18th September - Webinar: WPSD webinar on Diagnosis
Wednesday, 18th September 2024
9:00 AM ET | Online
Organised by the World Patient Alliance
Diagnosis is a critical cornerstone of patient safety, impacting treatment decisions and health outcomes across the globe. With diagnostic errors contributing to nearly 16% of preventable harm in health systems, the need for accurate and timely diagnoses has never been more urgent.
In line with World Patient Safety Day 2024’s theme, “Improving Diagnosis for Patient Safety," and under the slogan “Get it right, make it safe!," WPA are focusing on transforming diagnostic processes to enhance patient safety and care quality.
This event will bring together leading experts, patients and patient advocates to explore patient experiences, share best practices, and discuss how to foster collaboration among healthcare providers, patients, and families to minimize diagnostic errors.
Recording: Patient Video on Diagnostic Errors: "What if?"
Patients for Patient Safety (PFPS US): “What If?” with English subtitles about Diagnostic Errors
A recent report estimates that 795,000 Americans become permanently disabled or die annually across care settings because dangerous diseases are misdiagnosed. PFPS US is committed to reducing harm from diagnostic errors and has launched a variety of activities to address this sobering data.