International meeting for patient safety
International meeting on patient safety
On 17 and 18 April 2024, the 6th Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety took place in Santiago de Chile. Under the motto “Bringing and sustaining changes in patient safety policies and practices”, the sustainable integration of patient safety in healthcare systems worldwide was discussed. In addition to health ministers and leading representatives from the healthcare sector, the Ecclesia Group was also present. As Germany's largest insurance broker, Ecclesia showed that not only patients expect a high degree of safety and reliability in care, but also insurers.
Dr. Peter Gausmann, a proven expert in clinical risk management and patient safety, represented Ecclesia at the event. In his keynote speech “How do liability insurers reward clinical risk management in Germany?”, he reported on the important role of insurers and insurance brokers in promoting patient safety. “Insurers and brokers are not just passive observers, but active partners in the implementation of safety strategies in patient care,” said Dr. Gausmann.
Since 1994, GRB Gesellschaft für Risiko-Beratung mbH, a subsidiary of the Ecclesia Group, has been advising companies in the healthcare sector on clinical risk management and patient safety. The consulting services include risk analysis and assessment, structural and process consulting, and the assumption of operational tasks for a limited period. With the GRB consulting services, Ecclesia not only contributes to greater patient safety. Insurers also appreciate the clinical risk management activities. After all, safer patient care always also means better insurability.
Initiative for more patient safety: the HRO Award as an example of best practice
Dr. Gausmann took the opportunity in Chile to present the HRO Award. Ecclesia presents this award together with Gesundheitsstadt Berlin e.V. to highly reliable organizations in medicine and care. “Our HRO Award takes into account the criteria of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030 (GPSAP) of the World Health Organization (WHO) and sets new standards in recognizing excellence in healthcare,” said Dr. Gausmann, describing the intention of the award launched by Ecclesia in 2023.
The GPSAP was a central topic of the World Summit on Patient Safety. The action plan serves as a global compass for the nation states and forms the basis for many strategies for improving patient safety. This was also emphasized by Prof. Dr. Edgar Franke, Parliamentary State Secretary. In his speech, he addressed Dr. Gausmann's lecture and emphasized the importance of initiatives such as the HRO Award for patient safety. Dr. Neelam Dhingra of the WHO attributed the same importance to the award. She emphasized that the HRO Award brings patient safety projects to the public's attention. This way, they can serve as a model for other institutions and contribute to a noticeable improvement in health care.
New standards for the future
The annual summits serve as platforms for international cooperation. “By participating in the world summit, the Ecclesia Group has consolidated its role as a leading insurance broker and important player in the areas of risk management and patient safety,” Dr. Peter Gausmann sums up. “We look forward to presenting our successful projects and initiatives at the upcoming summit in Manila in 2025,” he continues.
The Declaration of the World Congress in Chile as a result of the Summit
As a result of the World Congress, Dr. Ximena Aguilera, Minister of Health of the South American host country, published the “Declaration of the World Congress in Chile”. It describes the measures that all participants of the World Summit have jointly developed. All participants agreed to implement the following measures to the best of their ability:
Strengthening government policies to promote the conditions for the development of patient safety. Promoting a paradigm shift towards greater participation of patients and their families as equal partners in healthcare decision-making (shared decision making).
A stronger commitment from the management and medical directors of healthcare facilities to promote the development and maintenance of a safety culture.
Allocation of resources to increase the use of information technology systems and to promote research in patient safety.
Stronger engagement of political organizations and their leadership and management at different levels to coordinate all measures to achieve the strategic goals of the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021-2030.