To be launched in July 2008
The Small Research Grants project is a new initiative of the World Health Organization's (WHO) World Alliance for Patient Safety. Its aim is to stimulate research studies on patient safety priority areas by providing seed funding for small research projects.

The WHO World Alliance would welcome research proposals that primarily focus on identifying, developing, and/or testing local improvement interventions for patient safety, as well as studies on cost-effectiveness of risk-reducing strategies. Other justified priorities identified at global, regional or local levels with potential for translation into policy and practice will also be considered.

Content

Champion activities around the world:

 - South Asia

 - Europe

 - Eastern Mediterranean

 - The Americas

Susan Sheridan became involved in patient safety after her family experienced two serious medical system failures. Her husband, Pat, died in 2002 after his diagnosis of spinal cancer failed to be communicated. Their son, Cal, suffered severe brain damage called kernicterus five days after his birth in 1995 when his neonatal jaundice was untreated. Susan is co-founder and past President of Parents of Infants and Children with Kernicterus, which works in partnership with private and public health agencies to eradicate kernicterus. In 2003, she co-founded Consumers Advancing Patient Safety, a non-profit organization that seeks a safe, compassionate and just healthcare system through proactive partnership between consumers and providers of care.

We had never met, but as we talked on the phone I knew she was Googling me. The way she drew out her conjunctions, just a little, that was the tip off — stalling for time as new pages loaded. It was barely audible, but the soft click-click of the keyboard in the background confirmed it. Oh, well, it's the information age. Normally, she'd have to go through my staff first, but I gave her an appointment.

Although “First do no harm” is the fundamental and one of the  most important rules of any health practice, as days pass by, more studies show the actual extent that the medical errors take effect.

For this particular reason, Turkish Patient Safety Association which is established with the participation of related stakeholders in April 2006 with a view to place the Patients’ Safety concerns right in the core of Turkey’s agenda and initiated and carries out related awareness raising and training efforts in Turkey, has set  “First do no harm”  concept as the primary theme to be raised in the 1st International Patient Safety Congress, which is scheduled to be held in between 26th and 31st of March 2007. Together with the support of Joint Commission International (JCI) and World Health Organization the Congress has proved to be an opportunity and a venue for exchanging knowledge and experience for more than 500 local and international participants.

International Alliance of Patients' Organizations is delighted to announce that registration is now open for the 3rd Global Patients Congress which will be held in Budapest, Hungary between Wednesday 20 & Friday 22 February 2008.

To download the Preliminary Programme for the next Global Patients Congress, please click here.