In recognition of Patient Safety Awareness Week, AAMI will be participating in a patient safety Twitter chat hosted by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), a nonprofit organization focused on keeping patients and those who care for them free from harm. The one-hour online discussion will be held Tuesday, March 15, starting at 2 p.m. EST.
The focus of this unique conversation will be patients in “all settings” across the care continuum, as opposed to just those who are hospitalized.
“While most patient safety research over the past 15 years has focused on hospital settings, most healthcare in the United States is delivered outside of hospitals — in doctors’ offices, clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, retail pharmacies, dialysis centers, and other settings,” the NPSF said in a news release. “Yet too little is known about the epidemiology of medical errors and adverse events in outpatient settings, and outpatient facilities often lack the infrastructure of hospitals, such as reporting mechanisms and dedicated personnel to focus on safety.”
During the Twitter chat, participants from the federal government, patient safety organizations, patient advocacy groups, and health care providers will answer questions about medication errors and adverse events, communication and care transitions, diagnostic errors, and infections. In addition to AAMI (@aami_connect), other participating organizations include the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (@AHRQNews), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (@CDCgov), and The Joint Commission (@TJCommission).
Anyone is welcome to ask questions or share information, tips, and resources during the event using the hashtag #PSAW16chat.
“This is a great opportunity for AAMI members and others in the medical device community to share their expertise and insights,” said Sean Loughlin, vice president of communications at AAMI. “Technology plays a fundamental role in modern health care, and healthcare technology professionals have a unique vantage point on some of the biggest patient safety challenges we face. Their participation will make for a richer and more informed conversation.”