Registered nurse, Gary Denison, verifies every patient's identification before drawing blood or administering any medication. The theme of this year’s National Patient Safety Awareness Week is Let’s Talk! Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare. A major key to patient safety is ensuring the patient and the procedure or medication are verified as correct Photo by Susan Simons Eisenhower Army Medical Center is proud to participate in National Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 7-13. The theme of this year’s National Patient Safety Awareness Week is Let’s Talk! Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare. This is an annual event sponsored by The National Patient Safety Foundation which is designed to engage staff, patients, and the community to focus on the critical need for partner- ship and participation in obtaining a safer healthcare system.

Patient Safety Awareness Week is a national education and awareness-building campaign for improving patient safety in United States military and civilian hospitals. Educational activities are centered on educating patients, staff, and the community on how to become involved in their own health care, as well as working with hospitals to build partnerships within the community.

The National Patient Safety Awareness Week provides an opportunity to educate our staff and patients to participate more effectively in medical care and to highlight our efforts to reduce medical errors and improve safety. Doctors, nurses and other members of the health care team at Eisenhower Army Medical Center are committed to providing safe and excellent care for patients. It is a team effort that requires the commitment of our health care providers as well as our patients and their family members.

Another component of Let’s Talk! Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare is “ASK ME”… A Patient’s Guide to Five Steps to Safer Health Care. When talking with healthcare providers (1) speak up if you have questions or concerns, (2) keep a list of all medications you take, (3) get the results of tests and procedures, (4) ask about your options if you need hospital care, and (5) make sure you understand what will happen if you need surgery.

Ask Me 3 provides 3 good questions for your good health. Ask (1) what is my main problem? (2) what do I need to do? (3) why is it important for me to do this? Asking your healthcare provider these questions will help take care of your health, prepare you for medical tests, and assist you in taking your medicines the right way.

Another focus of patient safety is the prevention of infection by using proven infection control practices and educating patients and their families to participate in their care by using these practices. An example is good hand washing techniques.

Patient Safety Awareness Activities during National Patient Safety Week at Eisenhower will include Patient Safety displays and free literature, daily patient safety information sessions, wallet size medication cards for patients, a survey of staff regarding their safety concerns and recommendations, and staff activities focused on “search and find” missions for patient safety. Eisenhower staff will be recognized for their dedication and outstanding support of patient safety.

Patient Safety involves a team approach from all staff, patients, and family members to enhance the health care services provided. The theme for National Patient Safety Awareness Week, Let’s Talk! Healthy Conversations for Safer Healthcare means the healthcare providers at Eisenhower want to talk and listen to our patients concerning their healthcare needs, thus enhancing communication for better and safer health care.