92nd MDG brings awareness to patient safety

Team Fairchild’s 92nd Medical Group is celebrating Patient Safety Awareness Week to promote a higher level of engagement between patients and healthcare providers at the base clinic March 11-15.

Patient Safety Awareness Week is an annual recognition event intended to encourage patients to learn more about improving communication with healthcare providers, healthcare safety and to create a safer environment for patient care.

“Patient Safety Awareness Week brings awareness to our daily practices and how we can continue to provide patients with the continuity of care they deserve,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Tyler Corter, 92nd Medical Operation Squadron aerospace medical technician.

There will be a variety events for staff members to participate in throughout the week, including making videos demonstrating proper patient safety.

“What I look forward to the most is being able to showcase my craft as a medical Airman, what we do on a day-to-day basis and the impact that it has on providing the best environment for the patient,” Corter said.

The 92nd MDG also promotes the “Ask Me 3” campaign as a way to increase patient involvement. “Ask Me 3” is an educational program encouraging patients and families to ask three specific questions of their providers to better understand their health conditions and what they need to do to stay healthy.

“We want you to ask three questions when you come in,” said Michelle Axelson, 92nd MDG patient safety program coordinator. “We want you to ask ‘What is my main problem?’, ‘What do I need to do?’, and ‘Why it is important for me to do this?’ Asking these types of specific questions enables our staff to provide a safer and higher level of care.”

A booth filled with informational handouts focused on patient responsibilities, how to document medications and gifts will be displayed throughout the week for both staff and patients to learn more about patient safety.

“We want our patients to be empowered to speak up,” Axelson said. “Patient Safety Awareness Week allows us to remind our patients they have roles and responsibilities that are just as important as our medical team in terms of their care. It also acts as a reminder to our staff about the importance of patient safety and how it affects patient care.”

The 92nd MDG’s participation in the Patient Safety Awareness Week campaign is just one of the many ways medical Airmen successfully keep Airmen healthy and ready to execute and sustain Rapid Global Mobility.