National Patient Safety Awareness Week 2025 Is Here!

National Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) runs from March 9 to March 15, and surgical facilities across the country are gearing up to participate.

This year’s theme from the Center for Patient Safety (CPS) is “Moving the Needle,” which the nonprofit that’s dedicated to reducing harm caused by preventable medical errors says was chosen by its safety experts to turn PSAW into a time for achieving tangible improvements that result in safer patients and safer care teams.

“This year’s concept shifts away from a week that once sought to raise patient safety awareness to, instead, an industry-wide expectation for patient safety action,” says CPS. “We encourage you to use the seven days of PSAW to celebrate achievements and recognize ways in which your organization has contributed to the patient safety movement and make plans for how the efforts will continue.”

Clearly, there’s no healthcare issue where the stakes are as high as patient safety. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) calls patient and staff safety a public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that medical errors are a leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. IHI, citing a well-known 2016 study by Johns Hopkins University, says that preventable medical harm or medical errors result in 250,000 to 400,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

CPS hopes those who participate in Patient Safety Awareness Week will use the time to celebrate achievements, engage in conversations and plan for the future. The group has a PSAW toolkit osmag.net/CPS_toolkit to help organizations get involved.

“Turning awareness into action for patient safety requires a multi-faceted approach that involves collaboration, engagement and continuous improvement,” says CPS Executive Director Kathryn Wire, JD, MBA. “By embracing the theme of ‘Moving the Needle’ and implementing strategies to foster a culture of safety, healthcare organizations can make significant strides in enhancing patient safety and delivering high quality care.”

Meanwhile, IHI’s theme for this year’s PSAW is “The Power of A: Awareness, Assessment and Action.” The nonprofit organization, which provides training sessions, advisory services and conferences internationally, says this year’s celebration — the 23rd PSAW — continues the tradition of trying to reduce medical harm that the week has strived toward each year since 2002.

“The call for PSAW 2025 is clear, and alignment on safety has reached new heights,” says IHI’s Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS. “It’s time for everyone in healthcare, in partnership with patients, families and the communities we serve to leverage the power of ‘A’ [Awareness] and operationalize what matters for safety.”

IHI’s Patient Safety Congress takes place on March 10 and 11 in San Diego. The organization has a free self-assessment tool facilities can use to determine how safely they’re operating. OSM