PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS TOOLKIT
The Safe Healthcare System Patients Deserve
Use this toolkit for Patients, Families, and Caregivers and
help share a national call for safer healthcare.
What Are We Asking For in the Petition?
The letter calls for four changes.
1. Make sure hospitals have strong safety systems.
Hospitals need leaders who take safety seriously, clear plans to prevent harm, and staff who feel safe speaking up about problems. Older patients also need care that meets their special needs and respects what matters most to them.
2. Listen to patients and families.
Patients and families often notice problems that others miss. We want hospitals to ask better questions, make it easy to report concerns, and use what they learn to improve care.
3. Help hospitals prevent harm.
The way hospitals are paid should help them invest in safer care. Hospitals should get support and credit for making real improvements in patient safety.
4. Use technology to spot problems sooner.
New tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), may help care teams find warning signs, share important information, and prevent harm. These tools must be used with care.
The goal is simple: safer care for every patient, wherever they receive it.
How to Share This Campaign With Your Community
Thank you for helping people learn about The Safe Healthcare System Patients Deserve.
You can share this campaign with the people in your group, network, or community.
Here are a few easy ways to help:
- Share the petition link in your newsletter, on your website, or on social media.
- Use or adapt the sample text in this toolkit.
- Help people find the full letter and the answers to common questions.
- Invite people to review the letter and decide for themselves whether to sign.
- If your group wants to formally endorse the letter, contact PFPS US.
You do not need to collect signatures or personal information yourself. People can use the official petition page.
Petition page: [PETITION LINK]
Questions or group endorsements: info@pfps.us
Thank you for helping more people learn about patient safety and the ways we can work together to improve it.
FAQ
What does patient safety mean?
Patient safety means protecting people from harm while they receive healthcare.
Harm can include a medication mistake, a missed diagnosis, an infection linked to care, or a problem caused when important information is not shared.
Not all harm can be prevented. But many risks can be reduced when healthcare teams have strong safety systems and learn from problems.
Why is this campaign happening now?
The federal agency that runs Medicare is reviewing its national plan for better healthcare. This creates a chance to make patient safety a stronger part of that plan.
A recent federal report also calls for new ways to prevent medical harm.
PFPS US wants federal leaders to build on progress already made and take the next steps toward safer care.
Why do hospitals need stronger safety systems?
Doctors, nurses, and other care workers cannot keep patients safe through hard work alone.
They also need good systems. For example, hospitals need ways to spot risks, share important information, learn from mistakes, and make sure concerns are heard.
Federal rules can help make these practices a basic part of hospital care.
Why does the letter mention older patients?
Older adults may face added risks during a hospital stay. Some medicines may cause more harm as people age. Confusion, falls, and loss of strength can also be serious concerns.
The letter supports stronger hospital practices that help protect older adults and make sure their care reflects their needs and wishes.
Why is it important to hear from patients and families?
Patients and families may notice things that are missing from medical records.
They may know when symptoms were dismissed, a diagnosis was delayed, or instructions were unclear.
Their experiences can help care teams find problems and prevent them from happening again.
How can the way hospitals are paid affect safety?
Hospitals need money, staff, training, and tools to improve safety.
Federal payment programs can help support those efforts. They can also reward hospitals that show real progress in making care safer.
What could artificial intelligence do to improve safety?
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is technology that can help find patterns in large amounts of information.
For example, AI may help care teams spot warning signs or find problems that occur across many patients.
AI is not a replacement for caring, skilled healthcare workers. It is one tool that may help them protect patients.
Do I need to have been harmed by medical care to sign?
No. You may sign if you support the requests in the letter.
Patients, family caregivers, healthcare workers, and other members of the public can take part.
Is this a political party campaign?
No. The letter asks federal health leaders to take action on patient safety. It does not ask people to support a political party or candidate.
Will my contact information be shared?
PFPS US plans to share signers' names and cities and states, but not their contact information.
Please read the privacy notice on the petition page before signing.
Where can I read the full letter?
Short Newsletter or Website Announcement
A National Call for Safer Healthcare
Every patient deserves safe care.
Yet problems can happen. A diagnosis may come too late. A test result may get lost. A patient or family member may raise a concern that is not heard.
Patients for Patient Safety US is asking federal health leaders to make patient safety a top priority.
The letter calls for stronger hospital safety systems, better ways to listen to patients, payment policies that support safer care, and technology that helps prevent harm.
Longer Newsletter or Website Announcement
The Safe Healthcare System Patients Deserve
We all want healthcare we can trust. We want doctors, nurses, and other care workers to have what they need to keep us safe. And we want our concerns to be heard.
Many people receive excellent care. But mistakes and other safety problems still happen. A diagnosis may be missed. A patient may get the wrong medicine. A test result may not reach the right person.
We can do more to prevent these problems.
Patients for Patient Safety US has launched a national call to action, asking federal health leaders to make patient safety a basic goal of our healthcare system.
The letter calls for four steps: stronger hospital safety systems, better ways to learn from patients and families, payment policies that support safer care, and smarter use of technology to spot risks before people are harmed.
The timing matters. Federal health leaders are reviewing the nation's plan for improving healthcare. This is a chance to make preventing harm a stronger part of that plan.
The campaign welcomes patients, caregivers, healthcare workers, and others who want to learn about the proposed changes.
Social Media Posts
Post A - Safe care matters to everyone
Every person deserves safe healthcare.
Patients, families, and care teams all have a part to play. Strong safety systems can help prevent mistakes and protect patients.
Learn about the national call for safer care: [PETITION LINK]
#PatientSafety #SaferHealthcare
Social Media Posts
Post B - When patients speak up
A patient notices that something feels wrong. A family member asks about a missing test result. A caregiver worries that a diagnosis is taking too long.
These concerns matter.
Learn why Patients for Patient Safety US wants patient and family experiences to help make care safer: [PETITION LINK]
#PatientSafety #SaferHealthcare
Social Media Posts
Post C - Support care teams
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers need strong systems to help keep patients safe.
Good communication, supportive leaders, and clear safety practices can make a difference.
Learn about the national call to strengthen patient safety: [PETITION LINK]
#PatientSafety #SaferHealthcare
Social Media Posts
Post D - Why now?
Federal health leaders are reviewing the nation's plan for better healthcare.
The Safe Healthcare System Patients Deserve is a national call for stronger safety systems, better ways to hear from patients, and more support for preventing harm.
Read the letter: [PETITION LINK]
#PatientSafety #SaferHealthcare
Social Media Posts
Post E - Technology and safety
Could new technology help care teams spot safety problems before patients are hurt?
AI and other tools may help find warning signs and make it easier to share important information.
Learn about the call for safer healthcare: [PETITION LINK]
#PatientSafety #SaferHealthcare
Social Media Posts
Post F - Everyone has a stake
You don't have to have been harmed by medical care to care about patient safety.
Patients, families, caregivers, and healthcare workers all share an interest in safer care.
Read the national call to action and consider adding your name: [PETITION LINK]
#PatientSafety #SaferHealthcare