DOHA: A global initiative of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) will explore new patient safety measures.
The WISH Summit, which will play a key role in addressing and finding solutions to the most pressing health issues, is in line with QF's mission of launching initiatives as part of the nation's drive towards fundamental healthcare development and reform.
Patient Safety is one of seven research work streams to be presented at the 2015 WISH Summit taking place in February in Qatar, where leading international health experts will join an influential community of heads of state, government ministers, academics, clinicians, policy makers and business leaders to discuss innovative solutions to some of the most pressing global health challenges.
To this end, it has appointed distinguished scholar Professor Peter J Pronovost to chair its Patient Safety Forum.
Professor Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, Senior Vice President for Patient Safety and Quality, and Director of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality at John Hopkins Medicine in the United States, will oversee the work of a team of distinguished international experts, drawn from every field relevant to patient safety.
The seven Forums will collate and consider the latest evidence in order to produce practical recommendations for health policymakers around the world.
The issues addressed by the Patient Safety Forum will include an exploration of how a systems integration approach can improve patient safety; how health systems can be designed, procured and delivered to enhance patient safety, experience and outcomes; the human and economic costs of safety failings; and learning from other high-risk sectors such as aerospace and defence.
The Forum will publish an evidence-based report for discussion at the 2015 Summit.
Professor Peter Pronovost said, "Patient safety is one of the fundamental building blocks of any healthcare system. However, incidences of avoidable harm remain high throughout the world and healthcare still has much to do to match the safety record of other high-risk industries, such as civil aviation or defence. We can provide evidence and new perspectives that will support policymakers trying to improve their healthcare system's safety record and patient experience."
Professor The Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of WISH and Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London said, "In most cases, patient safety failures involve avoidable harm. While raising standards is the responsibility of the entire global healthcare community, it is also a major policy issue. That is why WISH has decided to tackle patient safety this year, and I am delighted that Professor Pronovost has agreed to lead our work in this area."
With the appointment of Professor Pronovost as Chair of the Patient Safety Forum, WISH aims to examine how incidences of avoidable harm to patients can be reduced.
It will review different approaches to improving patient safety, and provide recommendations enabling policy makers to better prioritise changes that will improve safety, experience and outcomes for patients.
As well as Patient Safety, WISH will publish reports on Communicating Complex Health Messages, Diabetes, Delivering Affordable Cancer Care, Dementia, Universal Health Coverage and Mental Health and Well-being in Children and Young People.
WISH is spearheaded by Qatar Foundation to inspire and diffuse healthcare innovation and best practice.
It remains closely aligned to the vision and mission of QF to unlock human potential and serve to underscore Qatar’s pioneering role as an emerging center for healthcare innovation. (QNA)
