Niagara Health is celebrating Canadian Patient Safety Week (Oct. 26-30) by raising awareness with our patients, visitors, staff and physicians about the many ways we keep patients safe.
Patient Safety Week, launched in 2005 by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, is a national campaign that aims to create awareness and helps inspire improvement in patient safety and quality. As the momentum for promoting best practices in patient safety has grown, so has the participation in Patient Safety Week across the country.
“Ensuring patient safety and striving for improvements are fundamental elements of high-quality healthcare. Providing safe, quality healthcare to our patients is not only a top priority, but a value that we uphold every day at Niagara Health,” says Linda Boich, Executive Vice President Quality, Community Development and Mental Health and Addictions. “Our teams’ commitment to patient safety has never been more evident than during our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
An important part of our work throughout the year is teaching patients about their role in their safety. During Patient Safety Week, we are sharing with our patients – and our teams -- examples of our focus on patient safety, including:
- Tips to reduce the risk of falling.
- The importance of self-care (good nutrition, mindfulness and movement.)
- Ways to prevent pressure injuries.
- The critical role loved ones can have in a patient’s circle of care.
We are also emphasizing ways to control the spread of viruses like COVID-19. Which is a good reminder for everyone in the community to adhere at all times to the public health measures that were so key in Niagara’s response to combating the first wave of COVID-19 – masking, physical distancing and hand washing.
