Lentswe, Potchefstroom - Dr Sabelile Tenza, a prominent health systems and policy researcher and patient safety specialist at NWU’s NuMIQ entity, reflects on her pivotal role as a board member at Witrand Hospital, offering insights into the state of patient safety and the importance of community engagement.
As proponent of patients’ safety, she defines patients’ safety as “the absence of preventable harm to patients and the reduction of risks associated with healthcare to an acceptable minimum”.
“It is alarming to note that around one in ten patients globally experience harm while receiving care, leading to over three million deaths annually. More than half of these incidents - approximately one in every twenty patients - are deemed preventable. She emphasizes that “patient safety is a collective responsibility involving patients, healthcare providers, and leaders alike”.
As a hospital board member and community representative, she acknowledges the significant advocacy role she plays. With her academic background in health systems and patient safety, she aims to influence high-level decisions and assess the quality and safety of hospital services. This includes actively participating in board meetings, using data to highlight areas needing improvement, and leading a sub-committee focused on quality and safety.
She envisions creating a robust network of patient safety advocates and enhancing support for hospital leaders in this critical area. On World Patient Safety Day, Dr Tenza spearheaded patient safety efforts. The hospital’s Quality Assurance team disseminated key messages on customer care and safety to employees and patients, promoting a culture of safety and excellence.”
To gather community feedback, the hospital makes use of suggestion boxes in each ward and conducts follow-up calls to discharged patients. While positive feedback is common, Dr Tenza believes there is still significant potential to empower patients and families, allowing them to elevate their care expectations. She suggested conducting surveys on patient experiences of care to identify areas for improvement and foster stronger partnerships between the hospital and the community which is starting to bear fruits.
Witrand Hospital’s outstanding performance was acknowledged by the Auditor General of South Africa, who commended their commitment and efficient management delivering quality patient care. In the Annual Performance Plan for 1st Quarter 2024/2025, Witrand Hospital was awarded a trophy for best performing Regional Hospital for consistently receiving 100% on the 11 indicators.
