United for patient safety

  • Published
  • By Michael W. Jones
  • 6th Medical Group

Every year, the 6th Medical Group celebrates National Patient Safety Awareness Week. Our focus remains steadfast on creating a safe culture for all those involved in healthcare, from patients to provider teams. This can only be accomplished through an informed, engaged, and collaborative dialogue between the patient and provider teams.  

Although our patients and providers play separate roles in the healthcare process, it is essential we work as partners. This partnership requires constant communication and a clear understanding of healthcare issues that can help prevent medical errors and keep patients healthy. 

Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) is sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the National Patient Safety Foundation. This year’s theme emphasizes the fact that safety issues impact everyone. The more the provider team and patients work together to advance patient safety, the more we all benefit from a safe healthcare delivery system.  

Now, more than ever before in the healthcare community, there is a very strong impulsion to empower patients and strengthen communication between patient and provider teams. This viewpoint is fundamental to reducing preventable mistakes within our healthcare system.  

Similarly, there is a need to understand the impact of cultural diversity in healthcare settings, where cultural beliefs, education, and other factors can impact how patients understand their healthcare needs.  

One of our highest priorities is to maximize value to the patient. We strive every day to educate and empower our beneficiaries with the right tools and inspire healthy behaviors and attitudes. The commander of the 6th MDG, Col. Kevin Wright, and the entire medical staff’s goal is to keep you healthy and ideally prevent you from needing us, aside from preventative care.

We also desire to inspire confidence that we will be here when you need us. The 6th MDG seeks to develop policies and processes to enhance our patients’ knowledge and promote patient involvement in all aspects of their healthcare.

The first step is being “United for Patient Safety.” We desire each patient to become more engaged as a healthcare consumer. A good rule of thumb is to utilize the “Ask Me 3” questions, which every patient should ask of their doctor, nurse, or pharmacist:  

  • What is my main problem?

  • What do I need to do?

  • Why is it important for me to do these things?

Every day is patient safety day at the 6th MDG; however, March 11-17, is specifically dedicated as PSAW. This time period provides a wonderful opportunity to further engage our patients in their own healthcare.