One of the first initiatives of the Atlantic Health Quality and Patient Safety Collaborative (AHQPSC) is the inaugural Atlantic Health Quality and Patient Safety Learning Exchange, on May 11 and 12, 2011, in Charlottetown, PEI. The event promises to be exciting, appealing and practical, with a down-home flavor, at low cost.
“The Learning Exchange provides a rich opportunity to bring Atlantic Canada interdisciplinary teams, board members, leaders and government together,” says Theresa Fillatre, Chair of the AHQPSC. “Our primary goal is to showcase the great work that Atlantic governments, CEOs and organizations are doing in the field of healthcare quality and patient safety and to strengthen the exchange of strategies, knowledge and results.”
“We are delighted to be the host province for this inaugural event,” says Keith Dewar, CEO of Health PEI. “The program provides a grounded and hands-on focus, with an array of speakers and topics, and selected initiatives from across the Atlantic provinces in improving quality and safety.”
Chairs of the provincial patient safety groups will present; patients, families, and healthcare physicians and leaders will share perspectives on adverse events; one-half day will focus on Safer Healthcare Now! medication reconciliation; and a number of panel discussions and table top exercises will address governance, adverse event follow-up, and related topics such as disclosure. Some 18 Atlantic initiatives will be showcased, focused on utilization management, patient flow, service access, and improvement, continuity of care and communication strategies. As well, a community education event will be open to the public on May 10th, in partnership with Murphy’s Pharmacy, where Dr. Neil MacKinnon and Dr. Rhonda Church will present on their book, Take as Directed.
The official launch of the AHQPSC will be celebrated as part of the Learning Exchange, on May 11th. “No celebration in Atlantic Canada would be complete without a fiddler, a bagpiper and a Father of Confederation, and that is what participants will enjoy, as well as great PEI hospitality,” adds Dewar.
Check out the Save the Date Notice and electronic registration on the website: www.saferhealthcarenow.ca. The $175 early bird registration fee ends April 11th; registration is limited to the first 140 participants to sign-up.