Editor’s Note: I will…
Each spring, hotels and convention centers across the world are filled with people attending conferences about safety and quality improvement in healthcare. A quick look at the calendar items below and on the PSQH online event calendar reveals a wide range of organizations, topics, expert speakers, and venues. My colleagues at PSQH and I look forward to attending a number of these events over the next two months.
As I begin this period of travel, I carry with me advice I heard Dr. Peter Pronovost give to a group of clinicians and administrators at Quest 2011, a conference sponsored by Standard Register and held in Baltimore on March 24 (for which PSQH was honored to be the exclusive media sponsor).
Pronovost began his keynote by saying that his goal was not just to have the audience leave feeling enlightened and inspired. He said, “The real goal is to have you go out and do something with what you learn today. Far too many people are dying needlessly, and you are the ones who will do something about that.” He then asked everyone in the room to write “I will…” in their notes and come back at the end of the day to complete that statement. Pronovost went on to talk about leadership, culture, and accountability, which had extra impact following his call to action.
It was disarming and powerful message and remains with me, especially as I recognize that, as a member of the media, I enjoy unusual access to meetings and discussions of all kinds. I will do my best to use our print and online vehicles to help spread the learning from the events and travel that will enrich my work over the next couple of months.
* * *
Please stop by and say hello!
PSQH will be in booth 1105 at the annual meeting of the AONE in San Diego, April 14 –15; and in booth 506 at NPSF’s Patient Safety Congress in National Harbor, Maryland, May. We also will attend the unSUMMIT April 27–29, and EMPSF’s first annual Patient Safety Summit May 5–6.