​Thank you so much for joining us in supporting the second annual World Patient Safety Day on September 17, 2020!

In May 2019, all 194 World Health Organization Member States endorsed the establishment of World Patient Safety Day to be marked annually on September 17. Globally, 134 million adverse events contribute to 2.6 million deaths each year because of unsafe care. At 28,000 deaths per year in Canada, patient harm ranks third in mortality after cancer and heart disease.

Building on the success of last year's World Patient Safety Day, we once again came together in a global commitment to recognize patient safety as a key health priority.

To make patient safety a priority, we were proud to offer the following:

Canadian Patient Safety Institute

Thank you for joining us for the live streaming of Building a Safer System, the documentary celebrating Canadian Patient Safety Institute's 17-year impact on Canada's healthcare system. #BuildingaSaferSystem

In case you missed it, the documentary is available on our Youtube channel.

Following the documentary screening and lively panel discussion on healthcare worker safety, former staff members, colleagues, and supporters of CPSI gathered online to re-connect and celebrate the organization.

A panel of CEOs discussed the future of patient safety, and Donna Davis of Patients for Patient Safety Canada powerfully represented the patient voice.

Click here to view the recording of the panel discussion and the closing keynote remarks.

Patients for Patient Safety Canada

Due to the diligent work and outreach of several of our Patients for Patient Safety Canada members, the 2020 World Patient Safety Day was recognized in Canada like never before!

Not only did we see the CN Tower in Toronto lit up in orange to commemorate patient safety, but municipal buildings in Saint-Laurent Montreal, Mississauga, Calgary and Sylvan Lake, Alberta beamed our message into the night.

Not only that, but by reaching out to political figures across the country, PFPSC members encouraged declarations of support for World Patient Safety Day from:

• Conseiller Francesco Miele, on behalf of the Council of Saint-Laurent Montreal, Quebec
• Mayor Ed Holder, on behalf of the City of London, Ontario
• Mayor Greg Dionne, on behalf of the City of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
• Mayor Don Iveson, on behalf of the City of Edmonton, Alberta
• Mayor Naheed Nenshi, on behalf of the City of Calgary, Alberta
• Hon. Cameron Friesen, Minister of Health, Seniors and Active Living, on behalf of the Province of Manitoba
• Hon. Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health, on behalf of the Province of Alberta
• Hon. Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor, on behalf of the Province of British Columbia

Finally, an opinion-editorial written by PFPSC member Kathy Kovacs-Burns was distributed across the country for newspapers to consider running on the special day and members hosted a lively Tweet Chat using the #BuildingASaferSystem hashtag before the CPSI documentary screening!

World Health Organization

The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled the huge challenges and risks health workers are facing globally including health care associated infections, violence, stigma, psychological and emotional disturbances, illness and even death. Furthermore, working in stressful environments makes health workers more prone to errors which can lead to patient harm. Therefore, on World Patient Safety Day 2020, the WHO selected the theme of Health Worker Safety: A Priority for Patient Safety.

The World Health Organization published a call for action on health worker safety that you can read here.

We offer our special thanks to our World Patient Safety Day Platinum Sponsor, BD, as well as our two Gold Sponsors, HealthPro Procurement Services and Gojo Industries, makers of PURELL Hand Sanitizer, for their invaluable support.