March 6-13 is National Patient Safety Awareness Week. Health Care For All is taking the opportunity to honor the work of its Consumer Health Quality Council, which was founded five years ago. The Consumer Council has done much to advance patient safety and quality improvement in Massachusetts. Some of these accomplishments include: legislation requiring public reporting of Serious Reportable Events and Healthcare-Associated Infections and also requiring all hospitals to establish Patient and Family Advisory Councils and Rapid Response Methods that can be activated by patients and families; the creation of the AssertivePatient.org website, providing resources to those who have been dissatisfied with a health care experience; a story bank of video and written stories from members of the Council; and much more.
On Tuesday, March 8, the members of the Council will be honored at an event titled “Consumers Improving Quality: Honoring the Consumer Health Quality Council at 5 Years.” The keynote speaker is Linda Kenney, founder and executive director of MITSS. Department of Public Health Commissioner John Auerbach will give remarks and present certificates of recognition to Council members. Please join us to honor the work and dedication of this group. The event is 12:00-1:00 at Health Care For All, 30 Winter Street, 9th floor. There is limited capacity for the event, so an RSVP is required to dwachenheim@hcfama.org.
-Deborah W. Wachenheim
