Patients for Patient Safety Canada Launches Nationally

"champion the patient voice to advance safe healthcare"

TORONTO, May 5 /CNW/ - Patients for Patient Safety Canada, with a national vision of "Every Patient Safe", is officially launching as an organization today. Patients for Patient Safety Canada is a patient led national organization committed to safety in healthcare.

Patients for Patient Safety Canada works in collaboration with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) and the World Health Organization to make "Every Patient Safe".

"Patients and families see aspects of healthcare that providers themselves are often too overloaded to notice, and these details can often mean the difference between positive and negative outcomes", says Donna Davis, Co-Chair of Patients for Patient Safety Canada. "For example, less than 40 per cent of healthcare providers wash their hands appropriately before caring for patients."

That is why Patient for Patient Safety Canada has decided to launch on national Stop! Clean Your Hands Day. "After watching my mother-in-law's death from a C. difficile infection, I have a strong message for care givers, patients, and loved ones - WASH YOUR HANDS," says Johanna Trimble of Patients for Patient Safety Canada.

"At CPSI our priority is to build the safest healthcare system in the world. We can do this by working with organizations like Patients for Patient Safety Canada to help us ensure the patient voice is heard," says Hugh MacLeod, CEO, CPSI. Patient for Patient Safety Canada have played a key role improving patient safety in Canada and most importantly to give patients permission and authority to initiate change."

Patients for Patient Safety Canada welcomes patients and families from across Canada to join the cause of safe healthcare for all. As well, we invite healthcare organizations to partner with us towards a truly patient and family centred approach to the mitigation of unintended harm as a result of healthcare. Visit us at www.patientsforpatientsafety.ca

For further information: For media inquiries, please contact: Canadian Patient Safety Institute: Cecilia Bloxom, Director of Communications, [phone], [email protected]