Welcome to Patient Safety Week 2017

October 31, 2017

Along with the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, we’re spreading the mission of ASK. LISTEN. TALK and we’re celebrating the patients, families and providers who make healthcare safer in Canada. Learn more about the role patient and family members play in Patient Safety.

There is widespread agreement in healthcare that engaging patients and families is essential to safe care. Evidence increasingly shows that patient engagement is important to prevent patient safety incidents from occurring, respond to incidents, learn from and improve care safety.

Through patient and family engagement we have been able to improve the quality and safety of the care we provide at Sunnybrook. We would like to thank all of the patients and family members who have been a part of this process and we hope that our patient and family partnerships continue to grow stronger over the years to come.

When you or a family member needs medical attention, you expect safe, thorough care. You also expect to be heard. No one knows your own body and situation better than you. As partners in your care we encourage you to:

  • Speak up and ask questions
  • Share as much as you can about your illness or injury
  • Learn what to expect if you've experienced harm
  • Make sure your care at home is safe
  • Connect with the right healthcare experts and teams, at the right time
  • Choose your healthcare options wisely

We thank you for partnering with us to improve the quality and the safety of the care provided at Sunnybrook.

Please see the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and Canadian Patient Safety Institute resources and tools to support patient and family empowerment and engagement in patient safety below.

  1. Empowered Patient - a PDF guide to empower patients and families to recognize signs of clinical deterioration and also when they should request an assessment from the care team.
  2. 5 Questions to ask about your medications – a PDF resource to enhance patients and families knowledge and ability to complete medication administration and to also increase awareness of any required follow-up.
  3. Patient Question Checklist – a PDF resource that empowers patients to advocate for their healthcare safety.
  4. Sunnybrook Patient and Visitors Education Guide
  5. Patient and Family Engagement Resources
  6. Patient and Family Education and Tips for general safety, engagement in safe care and also medication safety while in hospital.