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VICTORIA
– Patients will benefit from a more
accountable and transparent approach to patient safety with the appointment of
Dr. Doug Cochrane to help create and lead a new BC Patient Safety and Quality
Council, announced Health Minister George Abbott today.
“The appointment of Dr. Cochrane to oversee the
establishment of the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council moves us toward in
meeting our throne speech commitment to ensure British Columbians receive safe,
high-quality health care,” said Abbott. “We’re confident Dr. Cochrane’s
leadership in the field of patient safety provincially and nationally will help
us to achieve the highest standards of health-care delivery in British Columbia.”
The
BC Patient Safety and Quality Council will work to reduce adverse events,
promote transparency and identify best practices to improve patient care. Over
the coming months, Cochrane will assist the Province in the next steps to get
the council set up and running.
“I
welcome the opportunity to work with colleagues across the health-care system
to ensure patients receive the safest care possible,” said Cochrane. “As a
physician, the issues of patient safety and quality care are of critical
importance.”
Since 2001, British Columbia has worked to improve
patient safety and strengthen existing safeguards, including expanding B.C.’s
PharmaNet system to reduce medication errors and adverse events. In January
2005, the Province announced $10 million to support additional patient safety
efforts including $6 million over three years to support the BC Patient Safety
Task Force, the Provincial Infection Control Network and the first academic
chair in patient safety at the University of British Columbia. In addition, in
October 2007, government announced $2.3 million toward a provincial patient
safety learning system.
Cochrane
previously chaired the BC Patient Safety Task Force and is currently the
vice-president of quality and safety at the Provincial Health Services
Authority and vice-chair of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute.
The
BC Patient Safety and Quality Council will provide advice and make
recommendations to the minister on matters related to patient safety and
quality of care. The council will bring stakeholders together in a
collaborative partnership to promote best practices and inform a provincially
coordinated patient safety and quality improvement framework.
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contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Health 250 812-5571 (cell) 250 952-1887 (media line) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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