SIKI Aruba invited the entire community to gather to commemorate this week on September 17, 2023. All patients, caregivers and relevant departments can be encouraged to involve the patient more in their own care. The International Patient Safety Day just shows that patient safety is an essential issue for all countries.
Studies show that at least 2 out of 10 patients will experience a medical error that could lead to serious health problems or even death. Aruba has achieved much in recent years to improve the safety of medicines, prevent infections and some common medical errors, but more remains to be done. Among other things, it is necessary to improve communication between the different authorities to provide safe, high-quality and timely services or medicines to the patient according to the real needs and preferences of the patient. For these reasons, this year’s focus is on the theme of involving the patient in their own health care. It is known that if the patient has the care in their own hands, this improves safety and quality. This is for three reasons.
The first is that only the patient has gone through the entire chain of care. In English, this is called the “patient journey”. For example, it was the patient alone who experienced her primary care physician, pharmacy, back to the primary care physician, specialist and her trip to Colombia. Only the patient can tell what he or she has experienced. Each caregiver looks at their own part and no department, AZV, etc., can see or know what the patient is living. By bringing this experience back into how we organize caring, something amazing will happen. At that point, it will become known where there are health risks, where there are inefficiencies, where service can be improved and where patient experience can be improved.
The second reason why to involve the patient is necessary because it improves the human treatment that each of us deserves. Health care is about human rights. Medicine is not about numbers or pieces of paper, but about real people. People with their preferences, emotions, fears and worries. They have their own personal circumstances and personalities. It is about respect for the will, protection of the human being and his privacy. No one may be forced to take a medicine or treatment, nor may any third party be allowed to access his or her medical data.
The third and final reason why patient involvement is necessary, is because if the patient is able to say how they feel they take personal responsibility for that part of their care. It is known that if a person takes responsibility for something, it substantially raises the odds for that person to achieve a more favorable outcome. If a person brings his own ideas about how to improve his health together with his caregiver, this leads to a care plan that is shared by both. This will result in the patient’s own health improving. The World Health Organization (WHO) is so convinced that patient involvement is the way forward, that this year has been declared the year to raise the voice of the patient. It calls on governments, policy makers, the health sector and the community as a whole to facilitate that every patient is more involved in their own health care. Only together can we achieve improve safety and quality of care, especially by giving the patient the opportunity to use his voice to express his preferences and exercise his rights as a human being.