2025 Client and Patient Safety Initiative of the Year – First Place to Kirkkonummi Health Station for Comprehensive Patient Safety Development Efforts
Kirkkonummi Health Station has shown outstanding dedication to advancing client and patient safety through systematic, high-impact work at multiple levels.
The station exemplifies how a strong safety culture can be built and sustained through everyday practice, structural improvements, and active collaboration. The unit has refined its operating models and implemented concrete safety measures, which include the use of patient wristbands in the urgent care clinic alongside a comprehensive set of guidelines that enable the entire team to act in ways that consistently promote safety.
Honourable Mention to Two Client and Patient Safety Achievements
Reprofiling of Activity Centre Groups – Aligning with Clients’ Needs and Interests
The restructuring of group activities at the Lohja Activity Centre (Disability Services) is a model example of development work that advances client safety by integrating client-centredness, risk management, service quality improvement, and staff wellbeing.
Through this reprofiling, groups were redesigned to better reflect each client’s individual support needs and interests. This approach promotes safe, meaningful service experiences, strengthens participation, and helps prevent social exclusion. The process was guided by self-monitoring principles and close expert collaboration. This resulted in a high-impact, multi-level client-safety initiative.
Safe Intramuscular Injection Workshop and Implementation
The introduction of a safe intramuscular injection workshop and its integration into daily practice represents a significant step forward in patient safety, enhancing medication safety, timeliness of care, and staff competence.
The workshop enables staff to refresh and update their skills in safe injection techniques. Its implementation in practice ensures these practices become routine, supporting self-monitoring and the implementation of the medication management plan. This initiative demonstrates the ability to identify risks and improve practice from a patient-safety perspective. It also aligns with the Wellbeing Services County's strategic goals and is an example of tangible development work with high-impact results.
The Client and Patient Safety Achievement of the Year competition
The competition showcases the client and patient safety work in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County. The aim is to improve the safety and quality of services and practices. The competition opens each April, with results announced on or around WHO’s World Patient Safety Day on 17 September.
The competition winner was chosen by a panel, which included Head of Quality and Customer Safety Katja Janhunen, Service Area Director Mari Ahlström, Chairman of the Quality Network, Chief Administrative Physician Veli-Pekka Puurunen and Director of Administration Jarno Moisala.