The Canadian Patient Safety Institute applauds proposed Excellent Care for
All Act, 2010

'proposed legislation step in right direction to improving quality and patient safety in Ontario'

EDMONTON, May 14 /CNW/ - The Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) applauds the Ontario government's proposed Excellent Care for All Act, which aims to lay the necessary groundwork for continuous quality improvement in healthcare.

"The proposed legislation is a step in the right direction towards improving patient outcomes, which we know is the goal of all healthcare organizations and professionals," says Dr. Doug Cochrane, Board Chair, Canadian Patient Safety Institute. "Increased accountability and clear quality improvement requirements will help to foster a culture focused on improving quality and patient safety."

"The proposed Excellent Care for All Act corresponds with our vision of Every Patient Safe," adds Katarina Busija, Co-Chair of Patients for Patient Safety Canada, a national patient-led organization that works in collaboration with CPSI and other organizations to champion the patient voice to advance safe healthcare. "Patients for Patient Safety Canada is very excited to see the implementation of this proposed legislation."

The proposed legislation supports work currently underway by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, including the implementation of the Patient Safety Education Project-Canada, a quality and patient safety program for frontline healthcare providers, the recent development of the Effective Governance for Quality and Patient Safety program - a toolkit and education session designed in collaboration with the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) for boards and healthcare leaders across the country detailing best practices and processes that work to improve quality and safety, and Safer Healthcare Now!, a grassroots quality improvement initiative involving 504 teams working across 161 Ontario organizations promoting and implementing interventions known to reduce avoidable adverse events.

The Canadian Patient Safety Institute looks forward to the enactment of the proposed legislation and the subsequent innovations to improve care and patient safety in Ontario.

About Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI)

The Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) is an independent not-for-profit corporation, operating collaboratively with health professionals and organizations, regulatory bodies and governments to build and advance a safer healthcare system for Canadians. CPSI performs a coordinating and leadership role across health sectors and systems, promotes leading practices and raises awareness with stakeholders, patients and the general public about patient safety. www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca

For further information: For media inquiries, please contact: Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Kelly Bowman, Communications Officer, [phone] or [phone]