While Hippocrates, the “father of medicine”, lived in the early 5th century B.C., the famous oath that bears his name emerged a century later. No one knows who first penned it. This oath ethically binds all the practitioners of modern medicine.
One component of this oath is “I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice”
The discipline of patient safety is the coordinated efforts to prevent harm to patients, during the process of health care itself.
It is generally agreed upon that the meaning of patient safety is…“Please do no harm”
Improving Patient Safety means, reducing patient harm.
Though the concept of doing no harm to the patient was embedded in the Hippocratic Oath it self , no much concern was shown by the hospitals, though Hospitals were founded to give care to those who need it and to keep patients safe is their moral duty .
The first effective initiative in this regard was started by World Health Alliance (WHA) in Jan 2002
- In May 2002 – resolution adopted by 55th World Health Assembly
- In May 2004 – WHA support establishing World Alliance for Patient Safety
Further with the leadership of WHO, the Patient safety concern became a major issue by all nations in Health sector And various safety measures are initiated by hospitals to reduce harm to the patient by implementing the WHO guidelines.
In the presentation, a summary of initiatives to be taken by hospitals in different areas for patient safety have been described for the knowledge, practices and implementation of patient safety initiative by hospital managers/Administrators.
Regards
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