Malaffi is proud to once again announce its sponsorship of the Patient Safety event: The COVID-19 Virtual Edition, by Informa markets, being held from 5-7 November 2020. As the region’s longest running event dedicated to patient safety, every year sees advocates of patient safety come together to collaborate and explore innovative solutions to current challenges, as well as highlighting the intrinsic need to make safety a global health priority.

In light of the global pandemic, and in line with ongoing efforts to prioritise safety at all times, the organisers are this year offering an alternative to the usual in-person conference experience. The event will be held completely online, whist still providing a compelling array of CME accredited webinars, presentations, panel discussions and as always, networking opportunities with the patient safety community. And as we reflect on what 2020 has taught us when faced with an unprecedented global health emergency, this year’s programme will focus on COVID-19 and the impact it has had on all aspects of healthcare safety.

Globally, we have seen a digital transformation in the way healthcare is delivered, and this is helping to address patient safety in many positive ways. When faced with a global pandemic, the ability to accelerate the uptake of digital solutions has demonstrated how a connected healthcare system helped to protect our community. Reflecting on this, Atif Albraiki, Malaffi’s Chief Executive Officer, will take part in a panel discussion, titled “The expedited role of technology and AI in patient safety” on 5th November at 11.30am. Moderated by Dr Samer Elham, Senior Consultant at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Heart and Vascular Institute and Regional Chair of the Middle East Patient Safety Movement Foundation, one of the most prominent leaders in the field of safety and quality in the UAE, the discussion will address the important improvements to patient safety that technology has afforded in recent years, and in particular, reflect on the success that a technologically advanced healthcare system has offered Abu Dhabi when faced with an emergency situation.

Highlighting in particular the impact that connected healthcare systems have on patient safety, Dr Rahul Goyal, Lead Physician, Informatics, Mediclinic Middle East, Clinical Advisory Member, Malaffi and Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, will host a live meeting on 6th November at 2pm, titled “Improving patient safety by bridging the information gap – the case of health information exchange”. From reducing medication errors, avoiding adverse drug reactions, removing critical delays in care and improving compliance to practice guidelines, health information technology is clearly an important tool for improving patient safety and the meeting will explore how, by addressing gaps in the way critical patient information is recorded, Abu Dhabi’s healthcare ecosystem is bridging the patient safety gap.

For more information, please visit https://www.patientsafety-me.com