What is Patient Safety Awareness Week?

Patient Safety Awareness Week is almost here! The next event takes place March 12-18, 2023 and serves as a national education campaign for promoting patient safety practices.

The Military Health System focuses on providing quality care for patients while keeping them safe and free from harm. We recognize health care professionals, non-clinical staff, patients and families all have a role to play in health care safety.

Who participates in Patient Safety Awareness Week?

The MHS has no higher priority than the safety of our patients. Our commitment to Ready Reliable Care sustains a culture of safety at every hospital, clinic, or other point of care across the MHS. The MHS has been engaged in the PSAW campaign for many years. Hospitals, clinics, and health care organizations across the country plan events to draw awareness of patient safety within their own organizations as part of a journey towards safe care and zero harm. Each year, military hospitals and clinics host events, like hygiene education and simulation training exercises.

Please join the MHS in recognizing PSAW and let us know how your facility is raising awareness, whether that's with celebration event photos, patient safety stories or something more. The PSAW Toolkit provides customizable, ready-to-use material to promote consistent messaging on key topics and issues. The toolkit includes enterprise messages and ready to-use tactics, including talking points, social media posts and graphics for each of these topics and more. Please visit the PSLC for more information including the PSAW Creative Activities Resource Guide which contains suggestions to help guide your facility in celebrating PSAW. Whether you use these as a guide or develop your own activities, have fun participating in PSAW! Discuss photography and article needs with the PAO well in advance of your event. Please tag all PAO-approved photos/articles shared on social media with #PSAW2023 and #MHSPatientSafetyWeek or email to DHA.patientsafety@health.mil.