NPSF leads nationwide effort to strengthen partnerships between patients and healthcare providers

The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) will kick off Patient Safety Awareness Week on March 7, 2010, in a concerted effort to raise awareness of patient safety initiatives, improve the quality of health care, and strengthen alliances between patients, families and their healthcare providers.

During the week, participating hospitals and healthcare systems will plan events to promote patient safety within their own organizations. Activities will focus on educating patients on how to become more involved in their own health care and events will foster partnerships between healthcare providers and their patient community.

In its eighth year, Patient Safety Awareness Week is sponsored by NPSF and celebrated by healthcare organizations around the world.

The 2010 theme – Let's Talk! Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare – focuses on communication. Health communication between provider, patient and families helps assure treatment adherence and reduces unnecessary care. Participating hospitals will engage their staff, patients and community with activities and events that emphasize the critical need for communication for a safe healthcare system.

"Clear and open communication between patients and their healthcare providers is fundamental to effective patient engagement, a key to safe care," said Diane C. Pinakiewicz, president of the National Patient Safety Foundation.

SOURCE National Patient Safety Foundation