Sasa supports World Patient Safety Day on 17 September
FOREST TOWN – World Patient Safety Day is a campaign made by all WHO members stated to encouraged those working in the healthcare sector to collaborate to continually reduce avoidable harm linked to medical errors.
The South African Society of Anaesthesiologists (Sasa) based in Forest Town has unequivocally endorsed the declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) of 17 September as World Patient Safety Day.
World Patient Safety Day is a campaign made by all WHO member states to encourage those working in the healthcare sector to collaborate to reduce avoidable harm linked to medical errors.
Sasa CEO Natalie Zimmelman said, “Patient safety is at the core of Sasa’s mission statement and drives all actions by the society. We strongly support improved patient safety as it is a critical issue in the perioperative environment (before, during and after an operation).”
Zimmelman explained that surgery is inherently dangerous, even for relatively fit patients who are having simple procedures. The anesthesiologist is pivotal to a successful surgery, providing medical care to patients by evaluating them before the surgery begins, consulting with the rest of the medical team, providing pain control, supporting life functions during surgery and supporting post-operative care until patients are discharged from the recovery unit.
“This is why anaesthesiologists study for at least 14 years to achieve their speciality so they can make sure they can keep the patient safe. With the advent of the anaesthesia speciality, surgical deaths have continually dropped, and dramatically so. That is why this is our core mission and why we embrace World Patient Safety Day.”
Zimmelman believes that although the focus of the day is on broader patient safety, even in a primary healthcare situation, surgery is an integral part of holistic healthcare.
Sasa’s reasoning for endorsing World Patient Safety Day is twofold. Firstly, they wish to increase public awareness of and engagement on this critical issue. Secondly, they wish to collaborate with others in working towards global solidarity and actions by the UN member states.
Sasa invests significant time, effort and finances to supporting clinical research, driving member education of the latest science and practice of anaesthesia and supporting skills workshops for members and others working in the perioperative space. This includes the training of nurses working with the anaesthetist in theatre. Sasa’s stakeholders as well as what is captured in Sasa’s published guidelines continue to drive awareness and allow for improved patient safety.
Sasa’s representative on Safety and Quality of Practice Committee of the World Federation of Societies and Anaesthesiologists (WFSA) aims to increase focus on the issue at an international level and allows Sasa to provide feedback and guidance at a local level.
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