WASHINGTON – The NationalCenter for Patient Safety of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was recognized today as one of five winners of the "Innovations in American Government" awards. The public service award recognized VA for a program to reduce medical adverse events and develop a culture of safety.
The innovations awards, started in 1986, are sponsored by the Ford Foundation and administered by HarvardUniversity’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in partnership with the Council for Excellence in Government.
"The quality of health care for veterans is a major priority for VA," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "I am very pleased this award recognizes the strides made by VA to safeguard our patients."
The NationalCenter for Patient Safety began in 1998 to provide a comprehensive program to assist in preventing medical adverse events. VA encourages health care professionals to report adverse events and close calls. Since the program began, more than 90 percent of all reports have been close calls.
Principi said he encourages the private sector to follow VA's lead in reporting close calls as well as adverse events. VA health care workers are now able to use tools designed by the NationalCenter for Patient Safety to identify system problems and reduce or eliminate unsafe situations.
“This prestigious award recognizes the VA staff's dedication to patient safety,” said Dr. James P. Bagian, director of the NationalCenter for Patient Safety. “VA is proud of all the nurses, doctors, technicians and managers who pioneered new ways of analyzing problems and preventing them from recurring.”
VA operates the largest health care system in the United States, providing care to more than 4 million veterans at more than 1,300 sites, including 163 hospitals, 800 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics, 206 counseling centers, 135 nursing homes and 43 domiciliary facilities.
