🛡️World Patient Safety Day (Sept 17): How STEM Protects Patients

Every year, World Patient Safety Day reminds us that every patient deserves care that's safe, accurate, and respectful. STEM helps make that possible through better diagnostics, smarter systems, and stronger checks.

A recent WHO campaign highlights the global importance of patient safety and encourages healthcare systems worldwide to enhance diagnostic accuracy. For instance, diagnostic safety toolkits are being developed to help medical teams reduce errors.

Data science is playing a central role. In countries with well-developed health systems, research indicates that utilizing wearable sensors, video analytics, and team coordination tools similar to those used by sports teams enhances safety in surgeries and emergency care.

But safety isn’t only about correct diagnoses or procedures. Protecting patient data and privacy is also essential. In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets strict rules to ensure medical records and personal health information are kept secure. As digital systems, AI tools, and data platforms become increasingly common in healthcare, STEM professionals play a vital role in ensuring these technologies not only assist doctors but also safeguard patient trust through robust privacy protections.

💡 What does this mean for young people interested in STEM?

• Studying computer science or engineering opens doors to designing diagnostic tools and secure data systems.

• Learning biology and medicine helps understand how the human body can fail and recover.

• Understanding data science helps identify patterns of medical errors and find ways to prevent them, while also learning how to handle sensitive data in accordance with standards like HIPAA in an ethical manner.

On this World Patient Safety Day, we honor all the doctors, researchers, patients, and caregivers who strive every day for correct diagnosis, safe care, and accountability. And we see you, next generation, as part of that effort.