AMA encourages patients, providers to observe Patient Safety Awareness Week

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 09 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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On the popular NBC television show "Scrubs," actor John C. McGinley stars as Dr. Perry Cox, a rough-around-the-edges yet compassionate physician leading a group of medical residents as they embark on their careers. Nearly 13 million viewers tune in to the comedy each week for a dose of humor and a bit of insight - albeit somewhat off-kilter - into the medical profession.

Now, McGinley is working to educate both viewers and non-viewers about a medical matter of critical importance: patient safety. The actor is currently appearing in a 60-second public service announcement on patient safety produced by the AMA (American Medical Association), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the American Hospital Association, promoting Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW), March 7-13.

Filmed on the "Scrubs" set, the former Platoon star says, "We joke a lot on Scrubs, but I want to talk about something that's no joke - how to get the best health care you can get. There [are] a lot of people who are involved in your health but the most important role is played by you."

Since being founded in 1847, the AMA has been consistently supportive of creating a culture of safety for patients. In 1997, the AMA, CNA/HealthPro, 3M and Schering-Plough launched the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) with the goal of identifying and implementing proven strategies for improving patient safety. Since then, the NPSF has become a nationally respected voice in the patient safety movement.

Coordinated by the NPSF, PSAW is a nationwide education campaign designed to improve patient safety at the local level. The NPSF urges physician practices, hospitals and health care organizations to host local activities to promote patient safety starting March 7.

Suggested activities include writing an editorial or first-person story for a local newspaper, inserting a reminder about PSAW when sending invoices to patients, holding a patient safety poster contest for children or providing a journal or message board for patients to record their stories or concerns while waiting for appointments.

According to NPSF Chair and past AMA Trustee Timothy T. Flaherty, MD, PSAW is a time for physicians to focus on their relationships with patients, offering them self-improvement tools so that they may participate actively in their own health care and help eliminate medical errors. For example, Dr. Flaherty believes the most effective tool a patient can use is a personal medical diary.

"That way, patients have a listing of medications they take - both prescription and over-the-counter - as well as their past medical history, allergic reactions, caregiver contact information," he said. The NPSF offers medical diaries and wallet cards for listing medications and physician phone numbers in its Patient Safety store.

Other tips for patients offered by Dr. Flaherty include cleaning out one's medicine cabinet and using days-of-the-week pillboxes.