Join us in celebrating World Patient Safety Day: Improving Diagnostics for Patient Safety
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World Patient Safety Day is observed every year on September 17th, and this year's theme is “Improving Diagnostics for Patient Safety”. In line with the WHO Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 and PAHO Strategy and Action Plan for Improving the Quality of Health Care Delivery in the Region of the Americas 2020-2025, the focus is on highlighting the importance of accurate and timely diagnostics to ensure patient safety and improve health outcomes.
Under the slogan “Right, safe!”, WHO calls on all stakeholders to take the necessary steps to prioritize diagnostic safety, strengthen systems, ensure safe diagnostic pathways, support healthcare professionals in making the right decisions, and adopt a multidimensional approach that involves patients throughout the diagnostic process. This approach aims to reduce diagnostic errors that often result from a combination of cognitive and systemic factors that affect patients' recognition of key signs and symptoms, and the interpretation and communication of test and laboratory results.
Celebration
This year, we will be hosting virtual seminars that will provide an opportunity for patients, decision makers, healthcare teams and academics to discuss and share experiences and insights on how to improve timely and accurate diagnosis to enhance patient safety.
Purpose of the event
Promote the importance of diagnostic safety at all levels of healthcare. Foster collaboration among policymakers, healthcare leaders, healthcare providers, patient organizations, and other stakeholders to advance accurate, timely, and safe diagnostics. Engage patients and families to proactively engage with healthcare providers and leaders to improve the diagnostic process.
audience
policy makers from Ministries of Health and other ministries, academics, health care leaders, health professionals and workers, patient organisations, families and communities.
agenda
Welcome and host: Ms. Blanca Peñaloza, International Consultant on Health Systems and Service Quality, PAHO/WHO.
Message for World Patient Safety Day: Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Jr., President of the Pan American Health Organization
Introduction: Mr Ernesto Báscolo, Unit Chief, Primary Health Care and Integrated Service Delivery Unit, PAHO/WHO.
Session 1: Safe Diagnoses, Safe Patients
Session 2: Call to Patients: Patients are the Main Players in Their Own Safety
Susan Sheridan (Patient Leader)
Session 3: Call to Health Professionals and Care Processes:
Bremen Murcio, PAHO/WHO, Latin American Centre for Perinatology, Women's Health and Reproductive Health (CLAP), Advisor on Sexual and Reproductive Health;
Session 4: Call for policymakers, decision makers, healthcare organizations and human resources leaders
Eduardo Benjamin Puertas, Chief of Human Resources for Health, PAHO/WHO;
Success story video: Strategies applied from different approaches that contributed to safe diagnostics.
Questions & Answers
Closing remarks: Mr. James Fitzgerald, Director, Health Systems and Services Division, PAHO/WHO.
