Marking World Patient Safety Day 2024
Happy World Patient Safety Day!
World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) is an official WHO campaign for all stakeholders in the healthcare system to come together to improve patient safety.
Through the slogan “Get it right, make it safe,” WPSD 2024's theme is "improving diagnosis for patient safety" as diagnostic errors account for 16% of preventable patient harm and can happen anywhere in the healthcare setting.
Diagnostic errors can be broadly divided into three categories:
Delayed diagnosis – Harm occurs when a health condition is not identified at an earlier stage. This may result from the failure to use the correct tests, reliance on outdated assessment methods, or failure to act on the results of monitoring or testing.Incorrect diagnosis – The wrong diagnosis is made, and the true cause is discovered later. This can lead to patients receiving incorrect treatments, which may be harmful, while they also miss out on the appropriate treatment for their condition.Missed diagnosis – A patient’s illness or health condition goes unrecognized, resulting in a worsening condition and avoidable harm due to the lack of appropriate treatment.
IAPO celebrates this year's WPSD theme and asserts that patient engagement is the number one measure we can take to improve diagnostic safety. A safety culture to support accurate, well-timed, efficient and patient-centred diagnoses can only be achieved through multidisciplinary work.
What is the role of patients and patient organisations in improving diagnostic safety?
Here are some ways in which patients and family representatives can contribute to diagnostic safety while interacting and building trust with their care providers:
o Providing complete, clear and accurate information, following a checklist of questions to be asked and actively following up on results;
o Confirming understanding of instructions and expected progress of health condition;
o Following through on diagnostic plans, including recommended tests and scans to make sure diagnosis is based on the most complete and current data;
o Requesting access and reviewing their medical records, lab results, and test interpretations for any discrepancies or missing information, also reporting any changes in symptoms;
o Advocating for themselves – expressing their concerns and requesting additional tests or even a second opinion if they feel their diagnosis is unclear or unsatisfactory. Patients can provide critical insights into their lived experiences, allowing healthcare providers to tailor care to individual needs and preferences, reducing the risk of errors and improving overall patient safety outcomes.
Lastly, by advocating for patients' rights and collaborating with healthcare professionals, researchers, and policymakers, patient organizations can educate, raise awareness, and co-create policies for the monitoring and evaluation of healthcare protocols. This collaboration helps implement accountability measures that reduce the occurrence of misdiagnoses, ensuring diagnostic safety remains a priority for all stakeholders.
We invite you to learn more about the theme, mobilise your network by sharing information on diagnostic safety and join the global health community in celebrating World Patient Safety Day in 2024.
Together, we can get it right and make it safe!
Learn more about the campaign [https://www.iapo.org.uk/node/15681] Resources on WHO Page [https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/world-patient-saf... Share https://iapo.cmail19.com/t/d-fb-ekkdlkk-iuqjytrli-o/ Tweet https://iapo.cmail19.com/t/d-tw-ekkdlkk-iuqjytrli-b/ Share [https://iapo.cmail19.com/t/d-li-ekkdlkk-iuqjytrli-h/]
The International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations is registered in England and Wales as charity no.1155577 and company limited by guarantee no.08495711.
Registered office: Hounslow House, 7 Bath Road, Hounslow TW3 3EB, UK.
