Canadian Patient Safety Week, November 1 - 5, 2010, reminds Islanders and health-care providers that good health care begins with good communication, announced Health PEI CEO Keith Dewar.
Canadian Patient Safety Week is an annual national event that aims to increase awareness of patient safety issues, share information about best practices, and remind the public that good health care starts with good communication. This year’s theme is “Ask. Listen. Talk.” Patients and their families are encouraged to ask questions, listen to the answers, and talk about any concerns they might have with their health-care providers.
PEI’s Patient Safety Strategy provides a coordinated and strategic direction for patient safety in the province. Prince Edward Island participates in a number of national patient safety initiatives including Canada’s Hand Hygiene campaign and the Safer Health care Now! campaign whose mandate is to improve the safety of patient care in Canada through learning, sharing and implementing interventions that are known to reduce avoidable adverse events.
“It is important that we ensure Islanders are confident in the care they are receiving,” said Keith Dewar, CEO of Health PEI. “One of our primary focuses is on educating Islanders and health-care providers on the importance of good communication regarding medication use. Medications include more than what is prescribed by a physician; they also include over-the-counter medicines and non-prescription items such as aspirin, acetaminophen, herbs, vitamins or minerals.”
Studies show that current medication lists for patients admitted to hospital are inaccurate or incomplete over 50% of the time. A patient’s up-to-date and accurate medication list is essential to ensure safe prescribing in any setting. It is very important for people to know ALL their medications, and to bring their medications and an up-to-date list with them when visiting their health-care provider.
The public is encouraged to become a part of this safety movement and spread the message that good health care starts with good communication. “A medication list form for Islanders to use is being rolled out to Health PEI programs and health-care facilities over the coming weeks in addition to being available on the Health PEI website,” added Dewar.
For more information on knowing your medications or to download a medication list form, please visit www.healthpei.ca.
For more information on Canadian Patient Safety Week, please visit www.asklistentalk.ca.