BOSTON, Mass., March 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF), a central voice for patient safety since 1997, has announced the program for the 17th Annual NPSF Patient Safety Congress, highlighted by keynote sessions devoted to patient safety culture, research, patient and family engagement, and influence. The NPSF Congress takes place April 29-May 1, 2015, at the JW Marriott Austin in Austin, Texas.
This year's meeting continues the theme United in Safety, which was introduced earlier this month during Patient Safety Awareness Week. "We truly believe that everyone has a role to play in making health care safer," says Tejal K. Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS, president and CEO of NPSF. "Our annual meeting emphasizes that fact by offering something for everyone—from front-line clinicians and staff to leaders of health care organizations, and from researchers to patients and advocates. We're bringing together an impressive faculty to offer insights, evidence, and inspiration to attendees committed to advancing patient safety."
As the only conference dedicated solely to patient safety, the NPSF Congress has a strong tradition of providing real-world tools, robust resources, and evidence-based solutions for a broad spectrum of related issues.
The meeting opens April 29 with an optional Pre-Congress Day, offering full-day intensive workshops in topics such as pediatric patient safety, patient and family engagement, best practices for root cause analysis, the need for greater transparency in health care, and a special review course for professionals planning to pursue certification in patient safety.
The two-day conference that follows features 30 breakout sessions and four keynotes:
- NPSF Lucian Leape Institute Keynote: Cultivating and Sustaining Respectful Behavior: Too many health care organizations suffer from bad behavior between and among clinicians and staff, which can damage morale, lead to psychological stress on the part of staff, and undermine safe practices and safety reporting. During this session, renowned patient safety leaders Lucian Leape, MD; Gary Kaplan, MD, FACMPE; and Gerald Hickson, MD, will emphasize the strategies and practices that can set the stage for correction.
- From Experience to Influence: How Three Patients are Leading Patient Safety: The NPSF Lucian Leape Institute has called for greater patient and family engagement at all levels of health care as a means of improving patient safety. In this session, speakers Kim Blanton, patient and family advisor; Chrissie Blackburn, principal advisor on patient and family engagement; and Beth Daley Ullem, MBA, patient advocate and an expert on governance of health systems, will share their unique stories and offer insights into how the voices of patients and families are contributing to safer, higher quality health care.
- Hot Topics in Patient Safety: Selected Papers Advancing the Field in the Past Year: Kaveh Shojania, MD, editor-in-chief of BMJ Quality and Safety, will discuss the most notable research of the past year and address how the evidence-based patient safety interventions and effective strategies identified in these papers can be translated into practice.
- Moving the Dial on Safety Culture: A strong patient safety culture is marked by teamwork, transparency, and a robust reporting structure. In this session, Allan Frankel, MD, author of The Essential Guide for Patient Safety Officers will present insights and strategies that attendees can use to boost the safety culture in their organizations.
The NPSF Congress will also feature poster presentations on topics of research and practical solutions to patient safety issues. The Learning & Simulation Center gives attendees the opportunity to experience live health care simulations and to learn from more than 75 solutions provider exhibits.
A limited number of press passes are available for the conference. Contact Patricia McTiernan at pmctiernan@npsf.org for details about media attendance. For detailed program information, including breakout sessions, faculty, and continuing education, or to register, visit npsf.org/congress.
About the National Patient Safety Foundation
The National Patient Safety Foundation's vision is to create a world where patients and those who care for them are free from harm. A central voice for patient safety since 1997, NPSF partners with patients and families, the health care community, and key stakeholders to advance patient safety and health care workforce safety and disseminate strategies to prevent harm. NPSF is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more about the Foundation's work, visit www.npsf.org.