FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Patients for Patient Safety Canada is now an independent organization
Excited to move forward with “Every Patient Safe” vision
Toronto, September 9, 2024 – After 18 years as the leading voice for patients and families who’ve experienced harm in healthcare, Patients for Patient Safety Canada is proud to announce it is now an independent incorporated patient-led not-for-profit organization.
For almost two decades, in partnership with Healthcare Excellence Canada, the Canadian Patient Safety Institute and many other organizations dedicated to patient safety, Patients for Patient Safety Canada influenced policies, practices, and programs across the healthcare system in Canada and globally.
Preventable safety incidents are rising
“Even as we celebrate being an independent incorporated organization, the celebration is tinged with the sad reality that patient safety incidents and related mortalities have escalated,” said Kathy Kovacs-Burns, Patients for Patient Safety Canada Board Chair. Burns notes that over the next 30 years, it’s forecast that within acute and homecare settings, there could be roughly 400,000 preventable patient safety incidents every year.
“The emotional and financial burden of preventable harm on patients and families is devastating,” said Burns.
Patients for Patient Safety Canada will be working with its partners to advance three high-level principles:
- prevent harm through promoting safety, prevention and learning from reporting
- meaningfully engage patients in improving safety across the healthcare system
- prevent further harm by supporting all harmed to heal.
Involvement in World Patient Safety Day, September 17
Patients for Patient Safety Canada will be asserting its voice on World Patient Safety Day, September 17. Under the banner of the WHO theme of “Improving diagnosis for patient safety”, PFPSC will beproviding tools and resources, and highlighting the patient stories of those who have been harmed by diagnostic error.
“The lived experiences of our volunteers both with preventable harm and system improvement provide us with the collective courage and motivation to change the course of patient safety in Canada,” said Ioana Cristina Popescu, PFPSC Executive Director. “Courage is contagious and we know that working in partnership we can make care as safe as possible, as soon as possible.” said Popescu.
About Patients for Patient Safety Canada: Patients for Patients Safety Canada is the only patient-led, Canadian organization dedicated solely to patient safety. We are the Canadian arm of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Patients for Patient Safety Global Network (PFPS) and recognized by WHO as a global leader. For more information and to partner with us: www.patients4safety.ca.
