Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW)

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Patient Safety Awareness Week

Join Us for Patient Safety Awareness Week: March 8–14, 2026


Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW), an annual recognition event in March, to make more visible the practices and initiatives that advance safety and engage patients, consumers, and communities in the coproduction of safe care. During this week, IHI seeks to advance important discussions locally and globally and inspire action to improve the safety of care for patients and the workforce. Patient Safety Awareness Week is a dedicated time to grow awareness about patient safety and recognize the work already being done.

Why a Focus on Safety?

Although there has been real progress made in patient safety over the past two decades, current estimates cite medical harm as a leading cause of death worldwide.

Some studies suggest that as many as 250,000 to 400,000 deaths occur in the United States each year as a result of errors or preventable harm. Not every case of harm results in death, yet they can cause long-term impact on the patient's physical health, emotional health, financial well-being, or family relationships.

Preventing harm in health care settings is a public health concern. Everyone interacts with the health care system at some point in life. And everyone has a role to play in advancing safe health care.

IHI works with partners around the world to improve the safety of health care for patients, caregivers, and the health care workforce.

Learn more about IHI's work to advance patient and workforce safety.​

Ideas for Recognizing Patient Safety Awareness Week

Resources