72nd MDG joins nationwide effort to promote patient safety awareness Published March 4, 2014 72nd Medical Group TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- In an effort to raise awareness and encourage the engagement of patients, families, health care providers, and the public, the 72nd Medical Group announces its participation in the 2014 Patient Safety Awareness Week campaign, Navigate Your Health ... Safely. Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 2-8, is an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety led by the National Patient Safety Foundation. Each year, health care organizations around the world take part in the event, creating awareness in their community and among their staff. This year's theme, Navigate Your Health ... Safely highlights the need for health care providers to ensure that patients and consumers are more engaged in the health care process, whether visiting the doctor for a routine exam or entering the hospital for surgery. "Health care today is extremely complex," says NPSF President Tejal K. Gandhi, MD, MPH, CPPS. "All of us will be patients at some point in life, and we should approach that experience the way we would approach any important journey -- with careful planning and communication. Navigate Your Health ... Safely reminds us that that providing safe patient care can best be achieved when patients are a key part of the team and take an active role in their care. The 72nd Medical Group will engage staff, patients, and the community through educational and awareness-building activities specific to patient safety science and practice. The focus of this year will be on Health Literacy. Health literacy has a significant impact on patient care outcomes and it's important to communicate to your health care team when there is something you don't understand. For more information on Patient Safety Awareness Week, visit www.npsf.org.