Patient Safety Room of Horrors Challenge

Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Beiter, 319th Medical Support Squadron medical lab technician, confirms the patient information on a prescription pill container during a Patient Safety Room of Horrors challenge on March 6, 2014, at the women’s health clinic on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Beiter participated in the challenge to find 34 potential or actual patient safety hazards, which is part of a series of activities put on by the 319th MDG in observance of this year’s National Patient Safety Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Xavier Navarro)

Your hands look pretty clean

Capt. Chris Ordonez, 319th Medical Group infection preventionist, checks Senior Airman Annabel Pack’s hand for dirt using a black light during a Glo Germ challenge March 3, 2014, at the pharmacy on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Pack, a 319th Air Base Wing Command Post emergency action controller, participated in the challenge as part of a series of activities put on by the 319th MDG in observance of National Patient Safety Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

National Safety Week observed at Grand Forks AFB

Pamphlets and booklets on patient safety and poison prevention were among some of the free informational materials given to visitors March 3, 2014, inside the medical treatment facility on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The information materials were given out by the 319th Medical Group to raise awareness for National Patient Safety Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

Sanitizing one hand a time

Capt. Chris Ordonez, 319th Medical Group infection preventionist, shows Ron Pack some of the free items offered to guests March 3, 2014, at the pharmacy on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The 319th Medical Group offered free items such as hand sanitizers and pill crushers to help raise awareness for National Patient Safety Week. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Luis Loza Gutierrez)

319th Medical Group holds National Patient Safety Awareness Week

Published March 10, 2014
By Senior Airman Xavier Navarro
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Warriors of the North are doing their part to keep everyone aware of the importance of patient safety.

Patient Safety Awareness Week is a campaign to encourage patients to be active participants in their healthcare and to educate staff about safe practices to support patients.

Elizabeth Nelson, 319th Medical Group patient safety program manager, and patient safety representatives helped put together this year's Patient Safety Week from Feb. 3 to 7, at the Medical Treatment Facility on base.

Patient Safety Awareness Week is an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety led by the National Patient Safety Foundation. Each year, health care organizations such as the 319th MDG and others around the globe take part in the event by prominently displaying the NPSF campaign logo and promotional materials within their organizations, creating awareness in the community, and utilizing NPSF educational resources among hospital staff and patients.

Senior Airman Andrew Romero, 319th Medical Operations Squadron immunization technician, volunteered his time to work the NPSW booth where pamphlets and booklets on patient safety and poison prevention were available.

"We give out these free supplies in hopes that patients read and learn from it," said Romero. "We also handed out weekly pill counters, pill cutters and poison control magnets."

The NPSF leads the event and provides some promotional materials. The Air Force Medical Operations Agency provides funding for each clinic to expand on these limited materials and provide additional educational materials and programs for both patients and staff.

Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Beiter, 319th Medical Support Squadron medical lab technician, took part in one of the events during the NPSW as a participant challenged to find 34 potential or actual patient safety hazards.

"These kinds of events are important because it improves awareness for current and future patient safety," said Beiter. "Taking your time and using the correct procedures are important to your own health and patients'."

The National Patient Safety Foundation is an independent, not-for-profit organization and its vision is to create a world where patients and those who care for them are free from harm.

With the observance of NPSW, the 319th MDG hopes to continue to build on the success of last year's efforts that resulted in their winning the 2013 AMC Best Ambulatory Clinic Patient Safety Program.

"We serve a little over 5,000 patients, which includes active duty, retirees and dependents," said Nelson. "This award reflected numerous improvements in our clinic over the last year, including promotion of process improvement and prevention, increased staff education and training and encouragement of patient safety reporting."