Dr. Sabelile Tenza, a leading health systems researcher and patient safety expert, is making significant strides in patient safety at Witrand Hospital as a board member. Her work emphasizes the urgent need for community engagement and collective responsibility in healthcare.

“Patient safety is the absence of preventable harm and minimizing risks associated with healthcare,” Dr. Tenza stated. She highlighted a staggering global statistic: “One in ten patients experience harm while receiving care, with over three million deaths annually. More than half of these incidents are preventable.”

Dr. Tenza advocates for informed communities that actively participate in healthcare decisions. “Empowering communities is crucial to enhancing patient safety,” she noted.

As a board member, Dr. Tenza plays an essential advocacy role. She participates in board meetings, uses data to highlight areas needing improvement, and leads a quality and safety sub-committee. “I envision creating a robust network of patient safety advocates to support hospital leaders,” she said.

On World Patient Safety Day, Dr. Tenza led initiatives to promote a culture of safety at Witrand Hospital, including key messages on customer care and safety disseminated by the hospital’s Quality Assurance team.

To improve community engagement, Witrand Hospital has implemented suggestion boxes and follow-up calls to discharged patients. “While positive feedback is common, we need to empower patients and families to elevate their care expectations,” Dr. Tenza emphasized, suggesting that surveys could further identify areas for improvement.

Dr. Tenza also plays a pivotal role in the hospital’s Quality Assurance Sub-Committee, focusing on staff attitude, cleanliness, and patient safety. She has been instrumental in identifying gaps and recommending improvements in customer care.

Under her leadership, Witrand Hospital has received recognition from the Auditor General of South Africa for its outstanding performance, achieving 100% on 11 quality indicators. In September 2024, patient waiting times averaged 1 hour and 25 minutes—well below the target of two hours. The hospital also achieved a 100% complaints resolution rate and a patient satisfaction rate of 94.9%.

Dr. Tenza’s commitment to quality healthcare aims not only to improve patient outcomes but also to amplify community voices in shaping hospital policies. “Our collaborative efforts in improving healthcare quality are crucial,” she stated.

Her advocacy extends to public engagement; in 2024 alone, she has shared her insights on various platforms, reinforcing the message that community members must understand their rights and expect high standards of care.