Provincial Focus on Health Care Safety

The Department of Health is placing an enhanced focus on patient safety with the establishment of a formal provincial Health Care Safety Working Group.

"People get quality health care in this province," said Health Minister Angus MacIsaac. "Almost anyone who's received medical care here will tell you that. Being vigilant and well-informed about health-care safety is one of the ways we can maintain the good care that's being provided. Many health-care organizations have safety procedures in place -- this working group will be a way for hospitals, nursing homes and others to share best practices and review up-to-date information."

The new working group has representatives from all health sectors in the province, including the Department of Health, and will produce a comprehensive plan to support districts with their safety initiatives. Hospitals around the province conduct regular safety inspections on structures and equipment and have procedures and committees in place to investigate reports of unsafe conditions or practices. They also encourage people to discuss any concerns they have about care.

"This working group is a critical piece in forming a new culture of patient safety in Nova Scotia. It provides a structure to get safety information out regularly, and will help change the concept of patient safety from being an isolated problem to becoming a universal goal," said Dr. Pat Crosskerry, department of emergency medicine, Capital Health, and member of the provincial Health Care Safety Working Group.

Dr. Crosskerry is also chair of the Halifax Health Care Safety Symposium being held in Halifax, Oct. 17-19. The Department of Health is one of the sponsors of the symposium.

Mr. MacIsaac said a public forum, which is part of the symposium, will provide an excellent opportunity for people to discuss safety issues with experts in the field. "We are all benefiting from the amount of emerging knowledge in this field."

The Department of Health participates in federal-provincial- territorial activities in this area, and is represented on a national Interim Safety Committee, which is overseeing the development of a national Patient Safety Institute.

The provincial Health Care Safety Working Group held its first meeting in September. Preliminary recommendations are expected in the spring.