Thanks to Nashville Mayor John Cooper and Nashville General Hospital CEO Dr. Joseph Webb, the lights on Nashville’s Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge were turned orange at dusk on September 17 in commemoration of World Patient Safety Day, celebrated worldwide by member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO).

World Patient Safety Day was established by the WHO in 2019 to recognize patient safety as a global health priority. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has also raised awareness of the importance of providing the personal protective equipment necessary to ensure both health care worker and patient safety.

“The enormous challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the direct relationship between health worker safety and patient safety,” said Cooper. “World Patient Safety Day 2020 provides a unique opportunity for us all to show solidarity and emphasize health worker safety as a pre-requisite to safe, patient-centered care.”

“Nashville General Hospital adopts best practices in the protection of both patients and caregivers,” said Dr. Joseph Webb, CEO. “We’re pleased to celebrate World Patient Safety Day to recognize the employees of Nashville General for their ongoing commitment to patient safety.”

In November 2019, the nationally recognized health care assessment organization, The Leapfrog Group, gave Nashville General Hospital an overall grade of ‘A’ for safety, quality and efficiency, based on standards set by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.