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My sister Kelly and I have been coordinating the National Patient Safety Day vigil in Cleveland, Ohio for the past four years. Before July 29, 2003, our family never really paid attention to the quality problems plaguing healthcare. I had read the headlines or heard stories on television, but I never really thought anything like those stories could affect me. I remember seeing and reading the stories and thinking "poor quality hospitals and healthcare can't be that much of a problem in the United States, right?" That's what my family and I believed until Shannon, my youngest sister, tragically passed away two weeks after tonsillectomy surgery on July 29, 2003.
National Patient Safety Day (July 25) was founded by Patti O'Regan, a resident of Florida. Patti's mother passed away from a medical error - and Patti was devasated as she was a nurse - as even she couldn't prevent her own mother from succumbing to poor quality care. My sister and I found out about Patti's day in 2004. We were inspired by Patti's idea and coordinated Cleveland's first National Patient Safety Day vigil in 2004 and have been holding one each year on July 25 ever since.
This year, we are gathering for the fourth annual National Patient Safety Day vigil on Friday, July 25 at 7pm in Lyndhurst Park, on the eastside of Cleveland. At the vigil, we will remember the 98,000 Americans who die each year from medical mistakes, adverse events or inadequate medical care. We will also honor those who are making a difference in patient safety right now in Cleveland! For the first time this year, we are fundraising at the vigil for a local healthcare organization who is focused on improving measurable patient safety outcomes.
Please join me in Cleveland to "light the way" for safe and quality healthcare for all! If you are not in the Cleveland area, please take a moment - wherever you are - at 7pm on Friday, July 25
- to remember those who have been affected by medical errors and complications, and
- to send positive energy/intentions/prayers to every medical professional who is working hard to create a safer and better quality health care system for all of us!
For more information about the National Patient Safety Day vigil in Cleveland on July 25, please visit www.lunaslight.com and click on News and Events.
