Province Marks Patient Safety Week

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Patients across Nova Scotia are being encouraged to take a more active role in their health care by asking questions health care givers questions as part of Canadian Patient Safety Week, Oct. 20-Oct.27.

As many as 8,000 health-care professionals will wear Ask Me buttons on Monday, Oct. 23, throughout Nova Scotia's hospitals to increase communication as one way to lead to safer care.

Patients in some hospitals will also receive copies of the Department of Health's Patient Safety Tips on meal trays that suggest questions that could be asked during their stay.

"We have one of the best systems in the world but it's important during this week for us to stress that patient safety is our number one priority," said Health Minister Chris d'Entremont.

"Even with the best systems in place, things may not go as expected. Our health-care professionals have worked very hard in the past several years to enhance policies that will improve the quality of care Nova Scotians receive and reduce the risks during hospital stays or when they visit a clinic."

Nova Scotia's district health authorities are planning events across the province this week to raise awareness about the initiatives underway to combat threats like antibiotic-resistant infections and medication errors that can occur.

"Patients can help themselves and their medical team by asking questions," Dr. Pat Croskerry, chair of the Nova Scotia Health Care Safety Advisory Committee. "When they're given medication, patients should ask the name of the pill and make sure their nurse or doctor knows about any other medication they're taking, or any allergies they may have to drugs. The campaign is also meant to encourage greater communication among health-care workers."

Dr. Croskerry, a leading physician on this topic is attending a patient safety conference in Vancouver, called Halifax 6: The Canadian Healthcare Safety Symposium. The symposium first began in Nova Scotia.

Canadian Patient Safety Week marks the strong commitment Canadian health-care organizations have made to improve safety. From patient safety research to the growth of successful national campaign called Safer Healthcare Now, there is a greater emphasis on measures like hand washing and reducing errors in medication.

Tips on patient safety and provincial initiatives are available on the Department of Health website at www.gov.ns.ca/health .

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FOR BROADCAST USE:

     Patients across Nova Scotia are being encouraged to ask

questions of their care givers as part of Canadian Patient Safety

Week that starts today (October 20th).

     As many as eight-thousand health-care professionals will

wear Ask Me buttons throughout Nova Scotia Monday (October 23rd)

to increase communication as one way to lead to safer care.

     Health Minister Chris d'Entremont says Nova Scotia has one

of the best systems in the world but it is important during this

week to stress that patient safety is the number one priority.

     District Health Authorities across Nova Scotia are planning

events across the province to raise awareness.

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Media Contact: Sherri Aikenhead
              Department of Health
              902-424-2583
              E-mail: aikenhsl@gov.ns.ca