National Patient Safety Awareness Week is an initiative started by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) that seeks to advance important discussions locally and globally, and inspire action to improve the safety of the health care system — for patients and the workforce. The NASS Patient Safety Committee reminds spine professionals of the many resources available from NASS and IHI.

NEW – Updates to Sign, Mark & x-ray initiative to prevent wrong-site spinal surgery & procedures: SpineLine (Jan/Feb 2023)

Video: Ask the Experts - Updates to Sign, Mark & X-ray Campaign: Prevention of Wrong-Site Spinal Surgery & Procedures

NASS participated in the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Choosing Wisely campaign, identifying 5 commonly ordered tests/treatments physicians and patients should question the necessity of in spine care. The Choosing Wisely initiative promotes conversations between patients and clinicians to foster trust in health care by helping patients choose care that is: evidence-based, not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received, free from harm, and truly necessary for better health care outcomes.

Check out this video summarizing 5 spine-specific tests/treatments to question and these patient-friendly materials on imaging tests for lower-back pain and bed rest for lower-back pain.

For patients, NASS created the site: KnowYourBack: "Take back your back! Get informed, discover possible treatments, and find a specialist." Resources available include: Patient Safety tips & Patient Success stories, Q&A

My Aching Back" Podcast: the place to find out the how, why and what’s next when it comes to your spine. Developed by North American Spine Society committees for patients, these podcasts focus on the diagnoses that cause back pain and treatments to help get you back on track.

Herbal Supplements: "Natural" doesn't always mean safe brochure

Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA): Screening Options

"Preventing Blood Loss in Spine Surgery with Tranexamic Acid": SpineLine (Dec 2020)

Additional safety resources for providers: (general, injections, infection, surgery, wrong-site surgery prevention)

IHI Patient Safety Awareness Week (free webinar): "Back to Our Purpose: The Reboot of Safety" - March 14, 2023, 12:00 PM–1:00 PM ET

IHI free webinar #2: "Partnering with Patients to Improve Diagnostic Safety" - March 15, 2023, 3:00 PM–4:00 PM ET