5 Ways to Recognize Patient Safety Awareness Week
Maintaining patient safety is a top priority for healthcare facilities and requires a collaborative effort from everyone involved in the care process — including patients themselves. National Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) serves as a time to reinforce this shared commitment through ongoing learning and engagement among the healthcare community at large.
Your facility can exercise its values and take actionable measures to promote a culture of safety by participating in this event. In this article, we’ll outline five ways that you can recognize PSAW and make a more meaningful difference during this week-long observance.
What Is Patient Safety Awareness Week?
Patient safety week is an annual, seven-day event dedicated to raising awareness and celebrating the daily work that goes into keeping patients safe. This event was first launched in 2002 by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to encourage the ongoing improvement of safety practices within healthcare settings.
In addition to raising awareness, PSAW is a time for facilities to take proactive steps in promoting safety within their communities. Providers are encouraged to educate others on helpful safety tips and empower patients to stay involved in their own care.
When Is Patient Safety Awareness Week?
PSAW is celebrated annually in the month of March and is specifically dedicated to the healthcare sector. It runs separately from National Safety Month, which occurs in June and more broadly recognizes workplace safety across all types of industries.
5 Ways to Recognize Patient Safety Week at Your Facility
Recognizing the efforts that go into improving patient safety is a valuable way to connect with other organizations and uphold your facility’s commitment to protecting patients. Here are five meaningful patient safety week activities that your facility can implement this year.
1. Host a Workshop With Patient Safety Week Games
Many facilities host educational workshops to promote professional collaboration and learning throughout PSAW. If you’re looking for a fun twist to a traditional workshop, consider creating a series of games that can help reinforce patient safety practices among staff. Here are a few ideas that are both educational and engaging:
2. Engage the Public in Community-Based Initiatives
If you’re seeking impactful ways to get the public more involved in patient safety, you can also consider organizing community-based initiatives. This can go beyond your facility’s direct care services to include the promotion of safety within a public health context. For example, your facility can engage and empower the community by:
- Hosting free community health screenings throughout the week.
- Partnering with local organizations to provide patient education on topics like falls prevention and infection control.
- Organizing a community awareness event, such as a medication take-back day, to encourage the safe disposal of expired medications.
3. Run a Digital Safety Awareness Campaign
Social media serves as a great avenue to connect with all types of healthcare stakeholders. You can raise awareness on patient safety by conducting a week-long online educational campaign. This gives you an opportunity to publicly highlight your family’s achievements and spread information that helps both patients and other facilities. Here are a few ideas of what you can do during this campaign:
- Host a live Q&A on Instagram or Facebook on how to advocate for patient safety.
- Share daily infographics outlining patient safety statistics and tips.
- Feature real stories of how staff at your facility have improved safety practices.
4. Acknowledge the Hard Work of Your Staff
During PSAW, you should also show appreciation for all the staff who work to keep patients safe every day. Taking the time to acknowledge and celebrate them can help boost staff morale and show that you recognize their vital role in promoting quality care. Here are a few ways that you can thank your staff throughout the week:
- Take extra time to highlight unit-based achievements during safety huddles.
- Offer free, on-site food trucks or free meals throughout the week.
- Put together self-care gift baskets to hand out to your staff.
5. Reset Your Facility’s Safety Practices
Beyond raising awareness and showing appreciation, it’s also important to take actionable steps to improve your facility’s safety practices. Use this week as an opportunity to “reset” by reviewing your institutional protocols and aligning them with your safety performance goals.
Also, encourage your staff to attend other patient safety events and workshops around the community. Since this week is about sharing resources and information, your team can gain valuable insights from other organizations while also sharing strategies that have been successful for your patients.
Take Steps to Build a Better Culture of Safety Every Day
While Patient Safety Awareness Week serves as an annual reminder to uphold your commitment to quality care, keeping patients safe requires daily effort. Looking for ways to sustain this effort once the week is over? Get dozens of other expert-written healthcare management tips delivered straight to your inbox.