Sir Liam Donaldson, global patient safety leader, to keynote OSAP 2011 symposium

ANNAPOLIS, MD-March 14, 2011-The Board of Directors of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis and Prevention (OSAP) announced that Sir Liam Donaldson, Chairman of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) patient safety initiative, will speak at its annual Infection Prevention and Safety Symposium on Friday, June 10, in Plano (Dallas), TX.  The conference runs June 9-12, 2011.

“One of OSAP’s driving initiatives is to help integrate the tenets of patient safety throughout oral care,” said Therese Long, OSAP’s Executive Director. “Sir Liam’s participation in the infection prevention and patient safety conference helps increase the visibility and underscores the importance of this initiative.
 
“Adverse healthcare events, including some dental related episodes, have been extensively featured in the popular press,” Long said. “Typically they occur not because people intentionally harm patients, but rather that the system of healthcare today is complex.  Therefore, the successful treatment and outcome for each patient depends on a range of factors, not just the competence of an individual provider.”
 
The June symposium will present information on patient safety in dentistry, as well as timely updates on diseases, infection prevention and safety technologies, regulations, “green infection control” and other critical topics.  “This is THE conference to attend for those who teach, lecture, consult and/or are responsible for infection prevention and safety in dentistry,” Long said.
 
Sir Liam will be delivering the organization’s sixth annual Dr. John S. Zapp Memorial Lecture.  The Zapp Lecture was established in 2006 to build bridges with global leaders to promote knowledge exchange about oral infection and safety, both for patients and deliverers of care.  Previous lecturers included leaders from the World Health Organization, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, FDI World Dental Association, the American Dental Association and the healthcare industry.
For more information on the program and to register, visit www.OSAP.org.