Patient safety

Doug Cochrane to lead BC’s patient safety council

VICTORIA – Dr. Doug Cochrane has been appointed to help create and lead a new BC Patient Safety and Quality Council, said Health Minister George Abbott.
 
“The appointment of Dr. Cochrane to oversee the establishment of the BC Patient Safety and Quality Council moves us toward in meeting our throne speech commitment to ensure British Columbians receive safe, high-quality healthcare,” said Abbott. “We’re confident Dr. Cochrane’s leadership in the field of patient safety provincially and nationally will help us to achieve the highest standards of healthcare delivery in British Columbia.”
 
The BC Patient Safety and Quality Council will work to reduce adverse events, promote transparency and identify best practices to improve patient care. Over the coming months, Cochrane will assist the Province in the next steps to get the council set up and running.

“I welcome the opportunity to work with colleagues across the healthcare system to ensure patients receive the safest care possible,” said Dr. Cochrane. “As a physician, the issues of patient safety and quality care are of critical importance.”

Since 2001, British Columbia has worked to improve patient safety and strengthen existing safeguards, including expanding B.C.’s PharmaNet system to reduce medication errors and adverse events.

In January 2005, the Province announced $10 million to support additional patient safety efforts, including $6 million over three years to support the BC Patient Safety Task Force, the Provincial Infection Control Network and the first academic chair in patient safety at the University of British Columbia. In addition, in October 2007, government announced $2.3 million toward a provincial patient safety learning system.

Cochrane previously chaired the BC Patient Safety Task Force and is currently the vice-president of quality and safety at the Provincial Health Services Authority and vice-chair of the Canadian Patient Safety Institute.

The BC Patient Safety and Quality Council will provide advice and make recommendations to the minister on matters related to patient safety and quality of care. The council will bring stakeholders together in a collaborative partnership to promote best practices and inform a provincially coordinated patient safety and quality improvement framework.