Patient safety webinar

Patients, providers, and policy makers all have a part to play in improving patient safety in BC. On November 29, 20 PVN members dialed into a webinar on this topic facilitated by Andrew Wray, Quality Leader at the BC Patient Safety Quality Council.

Wray defined patient safety as “the reduction of the risk of unnecessary harm associated with health care.” This means avoiding harm resulting from care and improving health care processes to prevent any adverse outcomes. Patient safety is a central part of health care quality improvement, and there are many organizations and resources that work to improve education, procedures, and support at all levels of health care in BC.

Patients also have a role to play in ensuring their own safety. Some tips from Wray included:

• learning about your own medical conditions and medications
• keeping an up-to-date list of your medications and a journal of your medical history
• working closely with your doctor and pharmacist to ensure you understand your prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
• being an active member of your health care team

For more information, including lists of questions to ask your health care providers, see the Quality Council’s resource page for patients, clients and families.

Currently, work in the area of patient safety focuses on acute care, although in 2009 the BC Patient Safety Quality Council collaborated with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute on a report about patient safety in primary care.

For more information on patient safety, see the online report and the BC Patient Safety Quality Council website. The Quality Council is also active on Twitter @BCPSQC.