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Luck of the draw

Staff Sgt. Marissa Reimer (right), 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron base operational medicine clinic medical technician, hands question cards to 92nd Medical Group Airmen March 15, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. As part of Patient Safety Awareness week, 92nd MDG staff members participated in Jeopardy style question refresher training. Topics covered during training were: communication, locations of certain personnel, places and things, different medical codes, medication safety, medical acronyms and abbreviations, and TeamSTEPPS (Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety). (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nick J. Daniello)

Should never look like this

This room demonstrates what a patient treatment room should never look like and was displayed during Patient Safety Awareness Week March 15, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Patients are encouraged to take an active role in their health care by speaking up and speaking out, when they feel something isn't right. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Airman 1st Class Nick J. Daniello)

Patient Safety Awareness display table

The 92nd Medical Group educated staff and patients about the safety of their health care system and to instill the message, “every day is patient safety day,” as part of the United for Patient Safety campaign, led by the National Patient Safety Foundation. Patients are encouraged to take an active role in their health care by asking these questions: what is my main problem, what do I need to do and why is it important for me to do this? (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Nick J. Daniello)

Patient safety #1 priority for 92nd MDG

Published March 16, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Nick J. Daniello
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The 92nd Medical Group educated staff and patients about the safety of their health care system and to instill the message, "every day is patient safety day," as part of the United for Patient Safety campaign, led by the National Patient Safety Foundation.

The goal of the campaign is to raise awareness and encourage patients and families in taking an active role in their health care by participating in care decisions and asking questions.

The three questions focused around Patient Safety Awareness Week are:
1. What is my main problem?
2. What do I need to do?
3. Why is it important for me to do this?

"We want our patients to ask these things," said Michelle Axelson, 92nd MDG patient safety manager. "They need to tell us about the symptoms they've been experiencing and how they feel. We want our patients to speak up and speak out. That's the best way they can help us help them."

An awareness booth is set up in the main lobby of the medical clinic with multiple flyers and pamphlets highlighting advice and information that can be useful for patients and providers, and reminds individuals to make patient safety a priority.

To keep medical staff on their toes, numerous members were quizzed on various medical topics and standards.

"This was a time for us to also recognize the staff and provide refresher training on safety without the added pressure of an inspection-type setting," Axelson said.

The topics covered with staff members were: communication; locations of certain personnel, places and things; different medical codes; medication safety; medical acronyms and abbreviations; and TeamSTEPPS (Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety).

"The 92nd Medical Group works hard every day to provide compassionate, high-quality trusted care," said Col. Meg Carey, 92nd MDG commander. "We continually look for ways to improve our processes and workflows with patient safety as our main priority. Asking questions and making sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment and when to follow-up with your provider is one way we can all make a difference."

Patients are encouraged to play an active role in their medical treatment and to converse with their providers to receive the best care possible as "every day is patient safety day."