Patient Safety Award System

About the Award

Advancing safer healthcare through recognition and shared learning

The National Patient Safety Award is an initiative of the Saudi Patient Safety Center that recognizes impactful projects, innovative practices, and leadership contributing to safer healthcare. The award creates a national platform for sharing successful experiences and supporting the wider adoption of effective patient safety solutions.

Through specialized award tracks and a multi-stage expert review process, the NPSA highlights measurable improvement, encourages collaboration, and celebrates the people and organizations making a meaningful difference in patient safety.

Recognize Innovation

Celebrate practical and creative solutions that improve patient safety.

Highlight Measurable Impact

Showcase initiatives that produce meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

Share Successful Practices

Enable healthcare organizations to learn from recognized projects.

Celebrate Excellence

Honor the teams and professionals committed to safer care.

Award Tracks

Ten areas of patient safety excellence

The 8th edition includes ten tracks covering innovation, engagement, clinical safety, workforce development, leadership, and emerging dimensions of safer care.

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01

Students and Researchers

Innovative ideas, research, and solutions developed by students and researchers.

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02

Patient Engagement for Their Safety

Initiatives that actively involve patients and families as partners in safer care.

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03

Maternal and Newborn Safety

Programs improving the quality and safety of care for mothers and newborns.

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04

Medication Safety

Projects that reduce medication-related risks and prevent avoidable harm.

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05

Training for Patient Safety

Training and educational initiatives that strengthen safe healthcare practice.

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06

Choosing Wisely

Evidence-based initiatives reducing unnecessary and low-value healthcare interventions.

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07

General Track for Patient Safety

Innovative systems and initiatives addressing important patient safety challenges.

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08

Infection Control and Prevention

Measurable improvements in preventing and managing healthcare-associated infections.

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09

Leadership in Patient Safety

Leadership that builds strong safety cultures and enables sustainable improvement.

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10

Emotional Safety

Programs and practices that protect patients from emotional and psychological harm.

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Award Projects Showcase

Celebrating excellence in patient safety

Discover the winning projects and distinguished initiatives nominated for the final interview in the National Patient Safety Award.

9 Award Winners 23 Interview Finalists

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Featured Award Winners

Award Winner

The Survival Net: A Clinical Pharmacist–Led Initiative to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes, Patient Experience, and Cost Efficiency through GDMT opt.

Armed Forces hospital of southern rehion Track 1 - Students and Researchers

Official Winner Badge 8th Edition · Click to verify

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a major cause of morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs globally and in Saudi Arabia. Despite robust evidence for guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT), real-world implementation remains suboptimal, leading to poor outcomes. Baseline data at Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Cardiac Center revealed extremely low GDMT optimization (2%), high 90-day mortality (18.8%), frequent 30-day readmissions (24.8%), and considerable cost burden. This project aims to evaluate the clinical impact of implementing a structured GDMT optimization tools for HF patients across the inpatient and ambulatory care settings in our institution by the end of 2025, including the following aims: o Reduce the all-cause mortality over 90 days to be less than 10% o Decrease readmission rates to be less than 20% o Improve patient related quality of life outcomes for more than 70% of patients. o Reduction of readmission and hospitalization highly cost burden by more than 50% of prior to interventions cost.

Award Winner

Partners in Safety: Engaging Patients to Prevent Life-Threatening Crises from Medication Non-Adherence

Track 2 - Patient Engagement for Their Safety

Official Winner Badge 8th Edition · Click to verify

Medication non-adherence was identified as a major contributor to preventable ICU admissions in our tertiary hospital. A review of January–June 2024 data showed an average of 1.76 ICU admissions per week linked to missed doses, improper medication use, or delays in refills—reflecting gaps in patient understanding, engagement, and shared responsibility in managing chronic conditions. To address this patient safety challenge, our team developed a Patient Engagement–Centered Medication Adherence Program. The initiative focused on empowering patients as partners in their own safety through personalized education, shared decision-making, medication counseling, simplified regimens, and proactive follow-up conducted by a multidisciplinary team. The program activated patients in managing their chronic conditions, improved communication, involved families, and strengthened the patient–provider relationship. Within six months, medication-related ICU admissions decreased by 54% (from 1.76 to 0.82 per week). ICU and ward bed-days reduced by 34 and 42 days respectively, with an estimated annual savings of 576,000 SAR. The target population included high-risk chronic disease patients across ICU, wards, outpatient clinics, and those flagged for missed refills. Key stakeholders were pharmacists, nurses, physicians, patient educators, families, and clinic teams. The project demonstrated that engaging patients as active participants significantly improves safety, outcomes, and adherence behaviors.

Award Winner

Towards Safe and Innovative Pharmaceutical Care: An Integrated Strategy to Enhance Medication Safety through Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Rea

King Khaled Hospital Najran (KKHN) Track 4 - Medication Safety

Official Winner Badge 8th Edition · Click to verify

Healthcare institutions globally face a significant challenge represented by medication errors that affect one in every ten patients and cost the global health system $42 billion annually according to the World Health Organization. In this context, an integrated strategy was developed aimed at achieving "medication without harm" through the integration of artificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies with evidence-based clinical practices. The project focuses on three main axes: rigorous measurement using 12 key performance indicators across four axes (clinical, patient, operational, economic), innovative intervention through the application of artificial intelligence in real-time with augmented reality to educate patients, and proven financial sustainability with a return on investment of 213%. The project was implemented over three phases during six months (January - October 2024), with comprehensive baseline data collection prior to implementation to ensure accurate measurement of impact. The results were exceptional: a 57.1% reduction in medication errors (from 7 to 3 errors per 1000 prescriptions, p < 0.001), a 46.4% reduction in readmission related to medications (from 12% to 6.4%, p < 0.001), and an increase in patient satisfaction from 85% to 97% (p < 0.001). This project represents a pioneering model in integrating advanced technology with clinical practices, with a focus on equity and inclusivity through the provision of Braille cards and sign language interpreters and instant translation for more than 90 languages, ensuring service access to all community segments.

Featured Interview Finalists

Interview Finalist

Comparison of three TR band deflation protocols following radial coronary procedures

king abdullah medical city Track 1 - Students and Researchers

Official Nominee Badge 8th Edition · Click to verify

Radial artery hemostasis can be achieved through various methods after sheath removal, but the risk of radial artery occlusion (RAO) remains a concern. A patented hemostasis technique preserves radial artery patency, reducing RAO risk. This study compared three TR band deflation protocols early initiation with long intervals, delayed initiation with short intervals, and routine protocol to identify the optimal approach after transradial coronary procedures. In a randomized controlled trial at King Abdullah Medical City, 207 patients were assigned 1:1:1 to the three protocols. Using the patented technique, 2 ml of air was reinjected after detecting the radial pulse following complete occlusion with 16 ml. Outcomes included total TR band removal time, bleeding, and RAO. Results showed significant differences in mean total TR band removal time among protocols A, B, and C (194.1 ±38.2, 200.1 ±27.2, 152.9 ±59.4 min; p=0.000). Bleeding rates were similar (11.8%, 15.9%, 22.9%; p=0.2), but first-hour bleeding differed significantly (10.3%, 7.2%, 22.9%; p=0.01). Only 1.4% of protocol B patients had small hematomas in the second hour. No RAO was observed. Early initiation appears most effective in minimizing bleeding complications.

Interview Finalist

Improving Pediatric Medication Safety Through Evaluation of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (KIDs List) and Associated Adverse Drug Reactions

IAU and King fahad hospital of the university Track 1 - Students and Researchers

Official Nominee Badge 8th Edition · Click to verify

This project focuses on enhancing pediatric medication safety by implementing a structured system to identify, monitor, and reduce the use of potentially inappropriate medications in children using the Key Potentially Inappropriate Drugs (KIDs) List. Pediatric patients are highly vulnerable to medication-related harm, and the absence of standardized safeguards increases the likelihood of preventable adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The project introduced a comprehensive pediatric medication safety initiative that applied the KIDs List as a screening and decision-support tool. Through systematic review of medication use, identification of high-risk prescribing patterns, and assessment of associated ADRs, the project uncovered opportunities to improve prescribing behavior and reduce harm. Based on the findings, multiple interventions were designed, including safer-prescribing recommendations, pharmacist-led verification processes, and targeted educational activities. The project provides a scalable framework that strengthens pediatric medication safety across diverse healthcare settings.

Interview Finalist

Incidence and Predictors of HA Pressure Injuries Among ICU Patients with CA Pressure Injuries: A Retrospective Study at Tertiary Hospital

KING FAISAL SPECIALIST HOSPITAL AND RESAERCH CENTRE Track 1 - Students and Researchers

Official Nominee Badge 8th Edition · Click to verify

Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) are a major yet preventable patient-safety concern in intensive care units, where critically ill patients are exposed to immobility, hemodynamic instability, impaired perfusion, and nutritional compromise. Patients admitted with community-acquired pressure injuries (CAPI) represent an especially vulnerable subgroup, as pre-existing tissue damage combined with critical illness significantly increases the risk of deterioration and new injury development. Despite this heightened risk, evidence focusing specifically on ICU patients with CAPI—particularly in the Middle East—remains limited. This project was undertaken to address this gap and to evaluate whether strong, standardized prevention systems can effectively protect even the highest-risk patients from additional harm. A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary Medical-Surgical ICU, reviewing 136 admissions between July and December 2022, including 36 patients (26%) admitted with CAPI. Clinical data encompassing demographics, Braden Scale scores, Glasgow Coma Scale, comorbidities, laboratory markers, CAPI characteristics, ICU length of stay, and development of new Stage 2 or higher HAPI were analyzed using internationally recognized NPIAP staging guidelines. Despite significant baseline risk, the incidence of new HAPI among CAPI patients was only 5.6%, substantially lower than national and international benchmarks. Patients who developed HAPI shared consistent risk factors such as very low Braden scores, declining neurological status, prolonged ICU stay, hypoalbuminemia, and multiple comorbidities, with heels identified as the most common injury site. These findings demonstrate that consistent adherence to evidence-based prevention bundles, early risk identification, and multidisciplinary collaboration can successfully prevent avoidable harm, reinforcing Zero Harm principles and providing valuable regional patient-safety evidence.

Our Review Panel