MDG recognizes National Patient Safety Awareness Week Published March 9, 2009 By Jimmy Dillon 82nd Medical Group SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 82nd Medical Group is joining other leading healthcare organizations in celebration of National Patient Safety Awareness Week March 8-14 to create a powerful team for improved patient safety. This year's theme is "A Prescription for Patient Safety: One Partnership, One Team." The 82nd MDG, a member of the National Patient Safety Foundation's Stand Up for Patient Safety Program, will engage staff, patients and the community by emphasizing the critical need for partnership and participation in the drive for a safer healthcare system. Patient safety is critical to providing the best quality healthcare available to all of our beneficiaries. Clear and open communication between patient and provider is at the very core of quality care, and is a vital component in keeping patients safe during their journey through the healthcare system. During this week, the MDG will stress to all patients and staff that patient safety must come first. Patients are highly encouraged to openly communicate with their healthcare provider and staff. In order to provide the safest possible healthcare, we must be actively engaged as a healthcare team and the patient is a vital part of the "one partnership, one team" concept. The 82nd MDG wants all beneficiaries to feel like they have a viable voice in meeting all of their healthcare needs and concerns and encourages open communication across the continuum of care. A patient safety display will be set-up March 12 in front of the Pharmacy in the main clinic and will have a great deal of information for all beneficiaries concerning patient safety. The MDG will hand out pocket prescription cards for beneficiaries to list their medications on and carry with them at all times. The MDG will also hand out weekly medication holders that beneficiaries can use to keep a week's supply of medications in. There will be some other give-a-ways as well and all this is being done to stress the importance of keeping patient safety first. The MDG is very patient-safety conscious and invites all beneficiaries to get actively involved in their own healthcare safety. If you have any questions concerning the MDG Patient Safety Program, please contact the MDG Patient Safety Manager Jimmy Dillon at 676-7791 or e-mail him at jimmy.dillon@sheppard.af.mil.