NWU and Potchefstroom Hospital Drive Patient Safety Forward with Research Seminar

On 10 September, the North-West University (NWU) partnered with Potchefstroom Hospital to host a Patient Safety Research Seminar at the hospital’s Residence Hall. The event highlighted innovative strategies and research projects aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, improving patient safety, and fostering a culture of learning among healthcare professionals.

Image: NWU

Sharing Knowledge for Safer Healthcare

The seminar showcased recent patient safety projects carried out at Potchefstroom Hospital, with discussions focusing on incident reporting systems, organisational culture, responses to medical errors, and strategies for delivering safer, higher-quality care.

Drawing on international best practices, the event featured input from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), bringing global insights into local healthcare challenges.

Dr Sabelile Tenza, from the NWU School of Nursing, spearheaded the seminar. She underscored the milestone as a turning point in strengthening collaboration across the healthcare sector.

Presentations Focused on Patient-Centred Excellence

The keynote address was delivered by Dr Petronella Lunda, also from the NWU School of Nursing, under the theme “Safe care for achieving best experiences of care.” She stressed that patient safety underpins dignity, trust, and excellence in healthcare.

Dr Tenza expanded on the concept of patient safety culture, identifying leader response to errors, staff support, provider empowerment, freedom to innovate, and teamwork as essential ingredients for improvement.

Adding to the discussions, Sibongile Dlaba, a master’s student at NWU, highlighted the benefits of implementing national patient safety incident reporting and learning guidelines, noting how they foster accountability and strengthen reporting culture.

Contributions also came from:

• Natasha Musundire, CHAI – insights on reported patient safety incidents in the national database.

• Dr Maureen Tshabalala, IHI – opportunities and approaches for healthcare quality improvement.

• Sr Jonette Potgieter, Potchefstroom Hospital – perspectives on safety policies and quality assurance within the facility.

Empowering Healthcare Professionals

The seminar promoted an environment of continuous learning, equipping healthcare professionals with evidence-based tools to improve patient care. Attendees left with practical knowledge on patient safety science, reporting systems, and quality improvement methodologies.

Wrap-Up

The Patient Safety Research Seminar marked an important step in aligning Potchefstroom Hospital and the NWU with both national and international standards for safer, higher-quality healthcare. By encouraging collaboration, open dialogue, and innovative practices, the seminar not only empowered healthcare workers but also laid a stronger foundation for patient-centred care in the region.

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