Action on Patient Safety: HIGH 5s
"One in 10 patients in industrialized countries is harmed while receiving health care"
WHAT: Six countries will sign a statement of collaboration and support for Action on Patient Safety: High 5s, a global initiative of the World Alliance for Patient Safety, of the World Health Organization. The initiative seeks to measurably reduce five major patient safety problems over five years.
WHEN: Signing event 12-12:15 pm, 1 November 2007.
WHERE: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C. (1615 H Street, N.W.)
WHO: Ministers of Health and/or their representatives from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The signing ceremony will also be attended by patient safety leaders and advocates from around the world, including Dr. Carissa Etienne, Assistant Director, Pan American Health Organization, and other PAHO experts; Sir Liam Donaldson, Chairman of the World Alliance for Patient Safety, World Health Organization; Dr. Dennis O’Leary, President of the Joint Commission; Dr. Karen Davis, President of the Commonwealth Fund; and Robin Osborn, Vice President and Director, International Program in Health Policy and Practice, also from the Commonwealth Fund, among many others.
WHY: To achieve significant, sustained and measurable reduction in the occurrence of five patient safety problems over five years in at least six countries, and to build an international learning network for sharing of knowledge and experiences in implementing standardized operating protocols on patient safety. The project, which will be carried out in three phases, will focus on the following five solutions (High 5s):
- Managing concentrated injectable medicines
- Assuring medication accuracy at transitions in care
- Communication during patient handovers
- Improved hand hygiene to prevent healthcare-associated infections, and
- Performance of correct procedures at correct body sites.
Media representatives planning to attend the signing event, please RSVP by contacting , tel. 202 974 3036.
PAHO, founded in 1902, works with all the countries of the Americas to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization.
For more information please contact , PAHO, Public Information, 202-974-3036.