Canadian Patient Safety Week

Bathurst, October 24, 2014 – Vitalité Health Network is reiterating its commitment to patient safety on the occasion of Canadian Patient Safety Week. This year’s awareness-raising event sponsored by the Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) will take place from October 27 to 31.

“Safety is not optional: it is a mindset and involves knowing the risks and setting the right example. This is Vitalité Health Network’s theme,” explained President and Chief Executive Officer Rino Volpé. “Everyone involved in the health care system has a role to play in how we deliver safe and high-quality care and services. It’s up to us to help make our health care as safe as possible for everyone!”

As part of this national event, the CPSI is striving to raise awareness of the issues around patient safety through its slogan “Ask. Listen. Talk.” This year, the clinical focus of the week will be infection prevention and control.

“Although patient safety is an integral part of our operational processes and daily activities, the Network is taking advantage of Canadian Patient Safety Week to focus greater attention on patient safety. Our patients are at the heart of our efforts and we must be vigilant in how we deliver our care and services,” Mr. Volpé added.

Hospital-acquired infections affect over 220,000 Canadians every year. “Hand hygiene remains the primary means of reducing care-related infections. It’s up to us to strengthen this concept and raise awareness among the population and our employees about its importance in the hospital setting,” Mr. Volpé continued. The hand hygiene rate among Network employees in July and August was 66%. The most recent national rate was 76%.

Our employees’ efforts are producing strong results in a number of areas, as the C. difficile results in our hospital facilities show. For the year to date, the regional C. difficile infection rate has been 1.63 per 10,000 patient days while the national average is 6.25 per 10,000 patient days.

Various activities will be taking place throughout the week within Vitalité Health Network. Information stands in the Network’s hospital facilities will give patients, employees, physicians, volunteers, and visitors access to literature and advice on the safe delivery of care.