Current Profile: Patients for Patient Safety Canada
The Unique Perspective of Patient Safety
Patients For Patient Safety Canada (PFPSC) was created in response to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) formation of an international alliance to improve patient safety. The World Alliance for Patient Safety (WAPS) was launched in October 2004 by the WHO to coordinate and accelerate international improvements in patient safety. Part of this initiative is the commitment to place patients at the center of the efforts to improve patient safety internationally.
Much can be learned by ensuring that the perspective of patients and families are part of the dialogue to build safer health care systems around the world.
It is recognized that patient safety could be improved if patients were included as full partners in reform initiatives, and learning could be used to drive systemic quality and safety improvements. By contributing the patient voice, experience and perspective, patients could ensure that the work of the World Alliance for Patient Safety was truly patient-centered.
Following workshops in London, England in November 2005 and San Francisco, USA in 2006, a small group of Canadian WAPS “Champions” started the Canadian patient initiative in a workshop in Vancouver, BC in 2006 that included 22 committed patients and family caregivers from coast to coast.
These people came together from coast to coast, from different walks of life, different degrees of education, different stories and with one common agenda - patient safety, Many of these people had personal stories of heartache and loss, grief and frustration. They were able to look beyond their personal event, draw from it and collaborate to set in motion the foundation for Patients For Patient Safety Canada. This organization would be the collective voice of patients who experienced harm while receiving care; this organization would be the voice of those now unheard.
The foundation was laid in Vancouver but there was much more to be done. Another PFPSC workshop was held in Winnipeg in November 2007. This was a designated an in-country World Alliance for Patient Safety workshop. Attending this session gave designation of World Alliance for Patient Safety “Champion” to participants not already holding that status.
A Charter has been developed with the Vision:
“Every Patient Safe”
and the Mission:
“We champion the patient voice to advance safe healthcare”
PFPSC promotes the teaching stories of patients who have suffered an adverse medical event or potentially harmful medical event. PFPSC Champions have spoke at Patient Safety Conferences such as the annual Sun Country Health Region Patient Safety Conference in October 2007, the annual Sue MacRae Lecture on Ethics and Patient Centered care at University of Toronto in June 2008,the SAHO convention in Regina, at the Adverse Events Task Force Meeting in NFLD, the Healthcare Ergonomic Systems and Patient Safety Conference in France June 2008 and many more at the regional, provincial and national level. PFPSC members sit on Health Advisory Councils, Patient Safety Committees, Liaison Committees, Best Medicines Coalition Canada, the Board of PharmaWatch, as well as Canadian “Halifax” conferences. The list is long and increasing daily.
PFPSC has also been active in British Columbia attending both the Acute Care and the Long-term Care sessions hosted by the Institute for Safe Medical Practices (ISMP) in Kelowna; as well as co-facilitating a session in Vancouver for the Safe Surgery Saves Lives conference. That session was titled “Are You Talking About Me?” which was a focus on the patient perspective and care experience. Further, PFPSC attended the BCPSQC event on “Disclosure” in Vancouver in June 2010.
The objective of PFPSC is to be a credible voice and source of patient perspectives initiating dialogue with all parties to influence and lead the achievement of “safe health care for all”. This means collaborating with governments, health care providers, health care organizations and other organizations directly or indirectly involved in patient care.
PFPSC is a valuable resource to access for health organizations with a vested interest in patient safety. Policies and interventions about patient safety need to be centered on the human element. There is the need to involve patients in designing safer healthcare systems. As consumers of this system their expertise is invaluable.
For more information on Patients For Patient Safety Canada is at www.patientsforpatientsafety.ca
