Patient Safety Week 2026 at FV connects healthcare professionals and promotes a culture of safety

From 14 to 18 September 2026, FV Hospital held Patient Safety Week 2026 in support of World Patient Safety Day organised by the World Health Organization (WHO), under the theme “Safe care for noncommunicable diseases” and the message “Safe care for life!”.

Patient Safety Week 2026 at FV took place from 14–18 September, featuring a range of professional activities, knowledge-sharing sessions and practical initiatives focused on patient safety.

Going beyond internal communications, this year’s Patient Safety Week featured a wide range of professional activities, quality improvement initiatives and practical discussions on therapeutic nutrition, with the participation of FV staff and hospitals in Healthcare Sector Emulation Group 13 under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

Safe care for patients with noncommunicable diseases

Patient Safety Week 2026 opened with a ceremony held in the Indochine Lobby on the Ground Floor of V Building, attended by FV Hospital’s Leadership Team, healthcare professionals, representatives from hospitals in Emulation Group 13, patients and their families.

The opening ceremony of Patient Safety Week 2026 at the Indochine Lobby, V Building, FV Hospital.

Speaking at the event, Mr Mohd Fazli Shuib, Quality Management Director and Head of Pharmacy Department at FV Hospital, highlighted the specific challenges associated with noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases. These conditions often require long-term care across multiple specialties and different stages of treatment.

Mr Mohd Fazli Shuib, Quality Management Director and Head of Pharmacy Department at FV, shared key priorities for safe care for patients with noncommunicable diseases.

As a result, every transition in a patient’s care journey requires close coordination to minimise the risk of errors and ensure that information is communicated clearly and completely.

From a quality management perspective, Mr Mohd Fazli Shuib highlighted three key priorities for the safe care of patients with noncommunicable diseases: reducing clinical and diagnostic risks, strengthening coordination of care, and empowering patients and their families to take an active role in the treatment process.

FV is implementing two programmes, JCI’s “Speak Up” and IHI’s “Ask Me 3”, which encourage patients to ask questions and gain a clear understanding of their health conditions, medications and care plans. Patients are also encouraged to speak up whenever something is unclear or may affect their safety.

This message was also a recurring theme throughout Patient Safety Week: patient safety is not only the responsibility of healthcare professionals. It requires close collaboration between care teams, patients and their families.

Knowledge and practical experience shared by FV healthcare experts

As part of the programme, on 14 and 16 September, FV healthcare experts shared practical knowledge on recognising early warning signs and taking proactive steps to prevent several common noncommunicable diseases in modern life.

FV experts shared practical knowledge and experience on recognising risks, preventing and managing common noncommunicable diseases.

Drawing on their extensive professional experience, the doctors and specialists provided accessible information and practical recommendations to help raise awareness of health and patient safety.

• Dr Pham Luu Nhat Hoang, Specialist Level II, Deputy Head of the Accident & Emergency Department, presented “Every Second Counts – FAST for Stroke and Warning Signs of Heart Attack”, focusing on the early recognition of cardiovascular and neurological emergencies and highlighting the importance of time in emergency treatment.
• Nguyen Viet Quynh Thu, MSc, Specialist Level II, Head of the Dietetics & Nutrition Department, presented “Nutrition: Myths and Facts”, providing scientific information to clarify common misconceptions about nutrition and help participants make appropriate and safe choices for their health.
• Dr Tran Nguyen An, Palliative Care Specialist, Hy Vong Cancer Centre, discussed the benefits of palliative care throughout the patient’s care journey and clarified the difference between palliative care and end-of-life care. The session helped raise awareness of the role of palliative care in improving quality of life and supporting patients and their families throughout treatment.
• Dr Tran Ngoc Thai Hoa, Specialist Level II, Specialist in Respiratory Medicine, presented “When Every Second Counts: Recognising Respiratory Deterioration”, providing essential information on warning signs of respiratory deterioration and the importance of timely recognition and management.
• Dr Nguyen Nhat Nam, PhD, Head of the Endocrinology Unit, presented “Severe Hypoglycaemia – A Hidden Danger”, highlighting the message “Recognise early. Act promptly. Prevent harm”. The session helped participants better understand the risks, warning signs and appropriate management of severe hypoglycaemia.
• Ms Nguyen Vo Minh Hien, MSc, Clinical Psychology Specialist, presented “Recognising the Right Problem at the Right Time: Improving Patient Safety in Child and Adolescent Mental Healthcare”, focusing on the early recognition of mental health concerns and the role of appropriate and timely intervention in caring for children and adolescents.

Through a diverse range of topics, the programme not only provided professional knowledge but also connected practical experience with common health concerns in the community. It also gave participants an opportunity to improve their ability to recognise risks, take preventive action and contribute to a safer healthcare environment.

Nutrition is an important part of safe care

On 15 September, the programme continued with the workshop “Patient Safety Starts with Nutrition”, attended by representatives from hospitals in Emulation Group 13.

The workshop “Patient safety starts with nutrition” explored various aspects of clinical and therapeutic nutrition.

The speakers approached nutrition from different perspectives, covering clinical nutrition processes, micronutrients, therapeutic meal planning and the dietary needs of different patient groups.

• Dr Nguyen Viet Quynh Thu, MSc, Specialist Level II, Head of the Dietetics & Nutrition Department at FV, presented on FV’s digital clinical nutrition process and the role of vitamin D.
• From a therapeutic nutrition perspective, Ms Luong Thi Ngoc Ha, Nutrition Specialist at FV, presented “Therapeutic Meal Planning – Bridging Clinical Prescriptions and Patient Safety”, highlighting the importance of developing meal plans that are appropriate for each patient’s condition and treatment needs.
• Dr Dang Ngoc Hung, PhD, NERCI Institute, discussed the role of selenium in overall health.
• The programme also explored nutrition in children through the presentation “The Impact of Craniofacial Growth and Masticatory Function in Children” by Dr Nguyen Thi Giang, MSc, Specialist Level I, Department of Maxillofacial & Oral Surgery, FV Hospital. The presentation examined the relationship between craniofacial development, masticatory function and children’s ability to eat.
• To conclude the session, Ms Nguyen Thi Thuy Lan, F&B Supervisor at FV Hospital, presented “Mindful Eating”, offering a more relatable perspective on eating behaviour and individual awareness during meals.

From clinical nutrition and micronutrients to therapeutic meal planning, children’s masticatory function and eating behaviour, the sessions highlighted the importance of viewing nutritional safety throughout the entire process, from assessment and treatment to how patients receive and consume their meals.

Quality improvement initiatives shared by hospitals in Emulation Group 13

On 17 September, FV held a special session on Patient Safety in the Auditorium on Level 3 of F Building, with presentations from healthcare professionals from several hospitals in Emulation Group 13.

The special Patient Safety session brought together speakers from FV and hospitals in Emulation Group 13 under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health.

The session was moderated by Ms Pham Thi Thanh Mai, Chief Operating Officer of FV Hospital, and Mr Mohd Fazli Shuib, Quality Management Director and Head of Pharmacy Department at FV.

The presentations focused on real-life situations in patient care and quality improvement initiatives designed to reduce risks to patients.

• From City International Hospital, Dr Dang Truong Son, MSc, shared a system for identifying and preventing specimen mix-ups during in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
• Do Hong Phuc, MSc, from Saigon Eye Hospital Ngo Gia Tu, introduced a model for transforming the safety culture in line with JCI standards.
• From Nam Sai Gon International General Hospital, Mai Thi Dung, MSc, presented an initiative to improve the Surgical Safety Checklist through the “Lead by Example – Record – Monitor” model.
• Nguyen Huy Phuc, MSc, Pharmacist, from Minh Anh International Hospital, shared experience in managing ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB).
• Meanwhile, Ms Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, nursing from Van Hanh General Hospital, introduced the “3 Identifiers – 3 Checks – 5 Rights” practice, together with the “Stop Moment” principle, which involves pausing for 10 seconds to verify the right information and take safe action.

Each presentation addressed a different issue, but all shared a common focus on identifying risks, standardising practices and continuously improving the quality of patient care.

From nutrition knowledge to practice through the Therapeutic Nutrition Competition

Also on 17 September, teams from hospitals in Emulation Group 13 took part in the Therapeutic Nutrition Competition at FV Bistro, under the theme “Patient Safety Starts with the Meal”.

Participating teams prepared meals tailored to the nutritional needs of different patient groups.

The teams developed menus and prepared meals suitable for a range of patient groups, including people with diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, swallowing disorders, cardiovascular disease, patients recovering from surgery, people with cancer, older adults, children and those requiring weight management.

Through the competition, therapeutic nutrition principles were applied in a practical setting, from ingredient selection and nutritional balancing to food preparation and presentation.

From ingredient selection and nutritional balancing to preparation and presentation, therapeutic nutrition knowledge was put into practice.

Closing Ceremony

On the morning of 18 September, the closing ceremony and prize-giving for two competitions were held in the Auditorium on Level 3 of F Building.

The first competition, “Daily Challenge”, awarded prizes to five employees each day for providing the correct answer in the shortest time.

The second competition, “Sharing Safety Moments”, invited departments and units to take photographs and post them publicly on Facebook. Entries were assessed according to three criteria: compliance with posting regulations (30%), image and message (40%), and engagement (30%), with the award going to the post receiving the highest number of likes and shares.

1. First Prize: Nursing Team, West Wing Surgery Department
2. Second Prize: Nursing Team, East Wing Internal Medicine Department
3. Two Third Prizes: Outpatient Department Nursing Team and Nurse Vu Minh Duc Hien, Medical West Ward

The programme continued with a food fair on 18 September, creating an additional opportunity for staff to connect and share knowledge about nutrition as part of Patient Safety Week.

The food fair provided an opportunity for connection and knowledge-sharing about nutrition during Patient Safety Week 2026.

Building safer practices through everyday actions

After five days, Patient Safety Week 2026 at FV concluded with a wide range of activities, from internal communications and professional updates to quality improvement initiatives and therapeutic nutrition practices.

The participation of hospitals in Emulation Group 13 under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health also broadened opportunities for professional exchange, allowing participating organisations to share experiences and approaches to identifying, preventing and reducing risks to patients.

From a patient asking a question, a safety check before a procedure, an improved checklist or a meal plan tailored to a patient’s health condition, patient safety is built through practical actions carried out every day. This was also the spirit of Patient Safety Week 2026 at FV: learning together, sharing together and making safety a natural part of every step of patient care.