How can we make health care safer?

CDC remains committed to improving healthcare quality and patient safety

Join us in Celebrating Patient Safety Awareness Week – March 10-16

This week, March 10-16, CDC celebrates Patient Safety Awareness Week, recognizing that safe and quality health care is a team effort. Together we can reduce healthcare-associated infections, adverse events, and medical errors to keep patients safe. Share these resources for healthcare workers and patients to help continue our progress on patient safety.

How can I protect myself and my patients? Infection prevention and control measures are necessary for a strong healthcare system that protects the safety of healthcare workers and patients. Use Free Training Resources. Project Firstline recognizes the learning preferences and time constraints of a diverse and busy workforce. To understand and confidently apply these infection control measures, innovative and accessible infection control education and trainings are available in a variety of formats for healthcare workers. Increase Knowledge. Consider leading a quick refresher course on infection control using Project Firstline’s “micro-learns.”  Recognize Risks. If you learn to spot the opportunities for germs to spread, then you can step in to stop them and prevent infections. How can I be a safe patient? Speak up. Talk to your healthcare provider about any questions or worries. Ask what they’re doing to protect you from infections. Keep hands clean. Make sure everyone, including friends and family, cleans their hands before touching you. If you don’t see your healthcare providers clean their hands, ask them to do so. Be antibiotics aware. Antibiotics do not treat respiratory viruses that cause infections such as flu, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Talk to a healthcare professional about the best way to feel better while your body fights off the virus. If you’re prescribed an antibiotic, take it exactly as prescribed, and do not skip doses. Watch out for deadly diarrhea (also known as, “C. diff”). Talk with your healthcare professional about your risk for developing C.diff, as most cases develop while you’re taking antibiotics or not long after you’ve finished. Staying in a nursing home or assisted living facility? As a resident, you may be at increased risk for infections. Learn more about ways to stay safe. Act fast if you suspect sepsis. Infections can put you or your loved ones at risk for a life-threatening condition called sepsis. Anyone can get an infection, and almost any infection can lead to sepsis. Learn how you and your loved ones can take specific steps to reduce your risk of sepsis and ACT FAST if you suspect it.

Together, We Can Improve Patient Safety Learn more from CDC and spread the word about how to be a safe patient: https://www.cdc.gov/PatientSafety

CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion works to protect patients and healthcare workers through safe healthcare delivery systems in the U.S. and abroad.

	It’s #PatientSafety Awareness Week! @cdcgov is committed to keeping you safe from healthcare-associated infections and making health care safer for everyone. Learn how you can be a safe patient during all stages of your health care: https://www.cdc.gov/patientsafety/index.html #PSAW24

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