Patient safety officers are healthcare professionals whose work focuses on reducing preventable medical errors and enhancing overall patient care safety.
"Our mission is to provide patient safety officers with professional growth opportunities and advanced resources to lead their organizations in successful patient safety efforts," explained Shulkin. "As hospitals and health systems look for ways to develop safer environments, they are increasingly finding it useful to create a patient safety officer position. In addition to the impetus provided by increased public attention to patient safety, several state regulations—including one recently announced in Pennsylvania—now mandate that hospitals appoint a patient safety officer."
PSOS provides professional resources to support members in their roles as change agents in their institutions, publishes a member newsletter and supports other endeavors that help connect and inform patient safety officers around the country. "Membership is free to all patient safety officers thanks to the generosity of PSOS’ first corporate member, Bridge Medical," noted Shulkin. "We anticipate other companies with an interest in patient safety will join Bridge in supporting PSOS."
"We are seeing a huge interest from our members and others around the country for materials and strategies to help them be more effective in these new roles within hospitals," said PSOS Board member Patricia Wallace, RN, MSN. "We are also planning to add new resources as the Society develops and members share tips on effective safety interventions and work plans." Wallace is editor of the PSOS newsletter.
To learn more about the Philadelphia-based Society—or find out how to join—visit www.PSOS.org.
An information technology firm, Bridge has pioneered the use of barcode technology in healthcare. The Solana Beach, Calif., company has been honored for its patient safety solutions and educational initiatives. For information, visit www.bridgemedical.com.