Statement on World Patient Safety Day
Worldwide, one in 10 hospitalized patients experience harm, such as medication errors, healthcare-associated infections or unsafe surgical procedures, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
World Patient Safety Day, introduced by the WHO in 2019, represents a global call for solidarity and concerted action by all countries and international partners to improve patient safety and reduce these harms.
The Joint Commission is joining that call. We’ve led the charge for improving patient safety and quality of care through the accreditation of healthcare organizations and certification of clinical programs for more than 70 years. Today, we continue that work in the United States and 76 countries.
This year’s World Patient Safety Day theme is “Engaging patients for patient safety,” recognizing the crucial role patients, families and caregivers play in the safety of healthcare.
We are all patients – and all healthcare organizations share in the responsibility of providing safe, high quality and equitable care for all.
When we are patients, we want our voices to be heard. In that spirit and in recognition that when the patient’s voice is heard, care is safer, The Joint Commission asks all our accredited organizations and partners to join us in recognition of this year’s World Patient Safety Day slogan and “Elevate the voice of patients!”
The Joint Commission has developed a collection of resources for healthcare organizations on World Patient Safety Day related to patient engagement, including:
- A video introduction from Jonathan B. Perlin, MD, PhD, MSHA, MACP, FACMI, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Joint Commission Enterprise;
- Video messages from Joint Commission Enterprise staff;
- Blog posts; and
- A new patient safety campaign, Speak Up To Prevent Serious Illness.