Rethinking Patient Safety Webinar
#Canadian Patient Safety Week 2023 takes place October 23-27
What does patient safety mean to you? How is the presence of safety different from the absence or harm? If we avoid harm, are we safe or just lucky? These are some of the questions that Healthcare Excellence Canada is exploring during Canadian Patient Safety Week (CPHW) 2023 as they champion a new approach to patient safety that fosters a curious mindset.
Historically, patient safety efforts have focused mostly on measuring and responding to harm. However, safety is much more than the absence of harm. Instead, patient safety includes looking at the whole system: its past, present and future in all its complexity. Everyone who delivers, supports, organizes and funds healthcare has a duty toward patient safety. Plus, everyone who seeks or receives healthcare should be offered the skills and the opportunity to contribute to their own safety. They also should be made aware of the degree of risk they face and how they can influence their own safety outcomes. Whether they realize it or not, everyone involved in giving or receiving care contributes to patient safety.
In the past, focus has been mostly on physical harms – especially those that are easier to measure, such as falls and healthcare-acquired infections. But the person who experienced harm is often best positioned to define it and describe its impact on their life. Examples of other forms of harm that are often overlooked include under- and over-treatment, wrong treatment, delayed or incorrect diagnosis, dehumanization, and psychological harm.
Widespread societal inequities, power imbalances and systemic oppression can contribute to healthcare harm. These include racism, ableism, ageism, sexual and gender discrimination, religious and class discrimination, and body size and mental health discrimination. Additionally, the economic, social, educational, and environmental inequities faced by various groups and individuals can lead to healthcare harm. For example, ongoing colonial impacts and racism experienced by First Nations, Inuit and Métis in healthcare continue to be harmful. Cultural safety is essential to patient safety. Bottom line, all forms of harm matter. We must open our eyes, minds and hearts to this broader concept of harm. We also must embrace a shared commitment among patients, care providers, leaders and other key players to reduce harm, manage risk and create safety in healthcar
Change is possible. Even small changes can have a big impact when it comes to safer care. Small things like asking questions, engaging in safety discussions, and taking action proactively.
You can start by signing up for their webinar and taking advantage of new CPSW 2023 resources and Rethinking Patient Safety: A Discussion Guide
#Join an interactive online discussion
Healthcare Excellence Canada's Canadian Patient Safety Week 2023 webinar will be a lively interactive discussion where a panel of patient safety experts shares insights on what safety means to them, how to establish safe conditions that go beyond preventing harm, and the roles that everyone involved in delivering or receiving care play. The goal is to help promote a curious mindset and identify effective approaches to safer care.
Hosted by Rachel Gilbert, Senior Program Lead, Innovations and Strategic Development, Healthcare Excellence Canada, the panel will include advisors and contributors to “Rethinking Patient Safety”:
- Denise McCuaig, Executive Director, Healthcare Transformation and Capacity Building, Healthcare Excellence Canada
- Wendy Nicklin, Adjunct Associate Professor, Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Nursing; Co‑Chair Patients for Patient Safety Canada
- G. Ross Baker, Professor Emeritus, Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto
- Maaike Asselbergs, Patient Partner, Patients for Patient Safety Canada; Lived Experience Partner and Co‑author
