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Canadian Patient Safety Week

Knowledge is the Best Medicine. Ask. Talk. Listen.

Canadian Patient Safety Week is an important initiative of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute as part of its national mandate to build and advance a safer healthcare system for Canadians.  Founded in 2005, this is an annual event to keep the issue of patient safety foremost in Canada.  This year's theme – Knowledge is the Best Medicine. Ask. Talk. Listen. – is based on a key element in quality healthcare — knowledge sharing — fundamental to all healthcare settings.

The theme builds on fundamental and key communication elements of the previous campaign. The intention in 2008 is to highlight the strong commitment Canadian healthcare providers are making to improve patient safety and the development of a culture of patient safety within their organizations. Health care is a team effort involving patients and all caregivers. The best decisions are made together.

There are numerous initiatives underway in British Columbia aimed at improving the quality and safety of health care for our citizens.  The Council is acknowledging the numerous Achievements in BC as part of Canadian Patient Safety Week.

Ask. Talk. Listen. Let’s improve communication between patients, clients, colleagues and caregivers.

What Can You Do?
As a patient, use these patient tips on medication safety:

Tips on Medication Safety for Patients (PDF 63 KB)

As a health care provider improve dialogue and cooperation — encourage patients and colleagues to ask more questions, talk with each other, listen and make sure they understand what is said.  Obtaining a Best Possible Medication History as part of a medication reconciliation process is one step towards improving patient safety. 

Tips for Obtaining Accurate Best Possible Medication History BPMH (PDF 29 KB)