World Patient Safety Day 2024: Improving Diagnosis

World Patient Safety Day 2024 Overview

• Observed annually on September 17th
• Theme: "Improving diagnosis for patient safety"
• Slogan: "Get it right, make it safe!"
• Established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to raise global awareness
• Aims to promote actions enhancing safety in healthcare
• Encourages stakeholders to unite for safer healthcare practices

Understanding Diagnosis and Diagnostic Errors

Diagnosis: Identifies a patient's health problem and guides treatment

Diagnostic errors include:

• • Delayed diagnosis: Correct but significantly delayed
  • Incorrect diagnosis: Wrong diagnosis made
  • Missed diagnosis: No diagnosis despite available information
  • Communication failure: Correct diagnosis not effectively communicated

Factors affecting diagnostic safety:

a) Systems-based issues:

• • Communication failures
  • Heavy workloads
  • Ineffective teamwork

b) Cognitive factors:

• • Clinical training and experience
  • Cognitive biases
  • Fatigue and stress

Strategies for Improving Diagnostic Safety

Strengthening healthcare systems:

• • Implementing robust quality assurance processes
  • Enhancing communication protocols
  • Optimizing workload distribution

Designing safe diagnostic pathways:

• • Developing standardized procedures for common conditions
  • Incorporating decision support tools and technologies
  • Establishing protocols for escalating complex cases

Supporting healthcare workers:

• • Providing ongoing education and training
  • Promoting a culture of open communication and learning from errors
  • Implementing strategies to manage stress and prevent burnout

Engaging patients in the diagnostic process:

• • Encouraging active participation in healthcare decisions
  • Providing clear, accessible information
  • Establishing mechanisms for reporting concerns or discrepancies

Significance and Global Impact

• Addresses a widespread issue transcending borders
• Estimated 134 million adverse events occur annually in hospitals in low- and middle-income countries
• Encourages collaboration among governments, healthcare institutions, and professionals
• Promotes patient-centered care and empowerment
• Reinforces the strength and effectiveness of healthcare systems globally
• Raises awareness about the importance of safety in medical care
• Advocates for the prevention of errors and reduction of avoidable harm