Published February 16, 2026
Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) will be March 8-14, 2026. This is a national program to help improve patient safety. The Center for Patient Safety (CPS) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) are leading this year’s campaign. The theme is “Team Up for Patient Safety,” which means patients and healthcare workers should come together to create safer healthcare environments.
Strong teamwork between patients, families, and healthcare workers is important to keep everyone safe. When patients and families work together with their healthcare team, they can share information, ask questions, and talk about concerns they have that might be overlooked. At the same time, healthcare teams can explain treatment plans clearly, confirm understanding, and get feedback. Working together helps identify risks, prevent harm, and provides the opportunity to make better choices. It also builds trust and helps everyone talk openly, making safety the main goal.
PSAW gives healthcare teams a chance to ask, “How can we work better together and talk more with patients and their families, so they get the best care possible?”
Hospitals and healthcare organizations across the country are encouraged to plan activities during this week to support patient safety within their community. The activities should be designed to help patients get involved in their own care. For example, your hospital might hold an event to teach about taking medicine safely. Hospitals may also give out wallet cards to help patients keep track of their medicines. Check with your local hospital and community groups to see what activities are scheduled for the week.
For over 30 years, ISMP, an ECRI Company, has been a global leader in patient safety. We are the first non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of safe medication practices. Research, education, and advocacy are the foundation of everything we do, and our strong collaborative relationships have enabled us to help protect millions of patients.
We are all safer when we work together.
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