World Patient Safety Day and Canadian Patient Safety Week

World Patient Safety Day

Tomorrow, September 17, 2022, is World Patient Safety Day. The World Health Organization has chosen “Medication Safety” as this year’s theme.

Advancements in medicine have saved many lives and improved health outcomes for people around the world. However, unsafe medication and medication errors can cause harm to patients accessing health care.

This year’s World Patient Safety Day highlights the high burden of medication-related harm due to medication errors and unsafe practices, and encourages urgent action to improve medication safety.

Canadian Patient Safety Week

The need for improved patient safety is highlighted again during Canadian Patient Safety Week, taking place next month from October 24 to October 28, 2022. This year’s theme is “Press play on Safety Conversations,” focusing on safer care of older adults through safety conversations and actions.

With health systems currently under strain, it’s more important now than ever before for health care workers and older adults to have open dialogue to understand how patient safety and quality can be improved.