Patient Safety Week at CRDAMC promotes working relationships between providers, patients

Courtesy Photo | Lisa Kelly, CRDAMC patient safety manager, hands out bags and informational material to CRDAMC staff during Patient Safety Awareness Week. (Photo by Kim Zamarripa, CRDAMC Public Affairs)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

03.10.2014

Courtesy Story

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center

By Brandy Gill
CRDAMC Public Affairs

FORT HOOD, Texas – This past week, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center participated in Patient Safety Awareness Week, an event that was founded by the National Patient Safety Foundation and celebrated by healthcare organizations worldwide.

This annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety highlights the continued need to make both patients and health care professionals aware of the importance of reducing errors in health care.
Each year, organizations participate by prominently displaying the NPSF campaign logo and promotional materials within their organizations, creating awareness within the community while educating hospital staff and patients.

According to Lisa Kelly, the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center’s patient safety manager, this year’s theme for National Patient Safety is “Navigate Your Health … Safely.”

“This is a week to recognize the advancements that have been made in the patient safety arena, while acknowledging the challenges that remain and committing to work on them every day,” Kelly said.

One of the big focuses this year is on preventing errors in diagnosis which, according to Kelly, requires patients to be active participants in their healthcare.

“This is a collaborative effort that includes encouraging patients to be assertive and ask questions as well as trust their instincts when it comes to their health. Providers are also encouraged to make patients a partner in the diagnosis process,” she said.

According to Col. Roger Gallup, the CRDAMC deputy commander for clinical services, efforts to promote this type of working relationship between providers and patients at CRDAMC is also endorsed by the National Patient Safety Foundation.

“Patients need to be informed and engaged in their care. The National Patient Safety Foundation has an education program that is called "Ask Me 3." It encourages a dialogue between the patient and the provider,” Gallup said. “The three questions are: What is my main problem? What do I need to do? And why is it important for me to do this? These questions help patients be engaged in their care and take better care of themselves. It also helps improve the outcomes of chronic medical conditions.”

According to Kelly, CRDAMC has seen success by implementing NPSF techniques.

“There is still work to be done, but we’ve come a long way, and we’ve come out better because of all the support we receive from all of our staff to ensure that CRDAMC is providing a safe environment for our beneficiaries.”

• Date Taken: 03.10.2014
• Date Posted: 03.10.2014 16:27
• Story ID: 121783
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US