Changing the Trajectory of Safety: Your Role in Driving Meaningful Progress 

Despite 20 years of patient safety efforts, achieving meaningful progress remains challenging. Dr. Fairbanks will challenge traditional approaches to safety and system design, inspiring fresh perspective on how safety can be achieved. Attendees will collaboratively explore innovative strategies for designing safer systems, moving closer to the ultimate goal of zero preventable harm. 

Rollin J. “Terry” Fairbanks, MD, MS, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality & Safety Officer, MedStar Health and Executive Director, MedStar Institute for Quality & Safety 

Looking Towards a Safer Future: Intent and Impact

Explore the latest national initiatives designed to enhance safety for patients and the healthcare workforce. Michele Schreiber from CMS will provide an in-depth look at new regulatory measures and systemic safety strategies, offering a comprehensive overview of key developments. Attendees will gain insights into the rationale behind the new CMS structural measures, discuss potential challenges, and collaborate on actionable steps to align with these requirements and foster meaningful change. 

Speaker to be Announced: due to recent policy changes, Michelle Schreiber is now unable to participate in the event. While we deeply value her expertise and the contributions she would have made to the conference, we must adhere to current rules. We remain committed to delivering an engaging and insightful program and are in the process of identifying an alternative speaker to provide valuable insights on patient safety. 

Assessment to Action: Implementing the National Action Plan and Moving Towards Total Systems Safety 

The National Action Plan to Improve Patient Safety will be introduced, offering a comprehensive overview of the report and its recommendations. Led by the co-chairs of the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety (NSC), the discussion will delve into the plan’s four foundational and interdependent areas, prioritized by the NSC as essential for achieving total systems safety. Participants will be inspired and equipped with actionable steps to implement the plan’s framework and advance patient safety within their own institutions. 

Patricia McGaffigan, MS, RN, CPPS, Vice President for Safety Programs at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and President of the Certification Board for Professionals in Patient Safety, and Co-chair for the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety 

Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MS, Director, Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQuIPS) at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and Co-chair for the National Steering Committee for Patient Safety 

 Thursday, April 10                 Event

8:00 AM                                    Registration, Light Breakfast, Visit Exhibitors and Patient Safety Poster Presentations

9:00 AM                                    Welcome

9:20 AM                                    Opening Keynote: Changing the Trajectory of Patient Safety 

10:45 AM                                  Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall

11:00 AM                                  Keynote: Looking Towards a Safer Future: Intent and Impact

12:00 Noon                              Exhibit Hall:  Exhibitors, Posters and Networking lunch

1:15 PM                                   Afternoon Keynote: Assessment to Action: Implementing the National Action Plan and Moving Towards Total Systems Safety

2:15 PM                                    Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall  

2:30 PM                                    Voices from the Field: An Interactive Workshop on Prioritizing Patient Safety

3:15 PM                                    Building a Safer Future Together

4:00 PM                                    Closing

Learning Objectives:

• Explore why patient safety is at a critical juncture and why the need for improving the design of safer systems is more important than ever.
• Describe innovative ways people across the country are approaching the design of safer systems and the impact that it plays on patient outcomes, and provider well-being.
• Outline how organizations are implementing the National Action Plan for Patient Safety and re-committing to advancing patient and workforce safety that results in improved safety.
• Articulate at least three methods for designing safer systems that can be done immediately.
• Discuss new federal and state regulations and describe strategies to comply with new measures.

This conference is designed for healthcare leaders, including Chief Medical Officers, Chief Nursing Officers, and Patient Safety Executives, as well as patient safety officers, quality improvement managers, and front-line care providers. It is relevant for professionals in both hospital and non-hospital settings. Leaders and patient safety professionals from pre-hospital and post-acute care environments will also find significant value in attending. 

Join Maryland Patient Safety Center’s mission to keep Maryland healthcare safe by submitting a proposal to present a poster at the Maryland Patient Safety Conference. We are seeking proposals that are timely, relevant, and evidence-based, showcasing best practices in patient safety and aligning with the conference learning objectives. 

Priority will be given to submissions that: 

• Support conference learning outcomes in various care settings. 

• Eliminate preventable harm across care environments. 

• Integrate health equity in the work or specifically address a health equity topic. 

• Incorporate patient safety and improvement science methods and clearly outline the method or framework used to implement practice changes. 

• Provide actionable takeaways that allow replication at other organizations. 

• Identify and address gaps in education, practice, or outcomes that impacts patient safety or quality of care. 

• Demonstrate measurable improvement and outline metrics that indicate the effects of practice change(s) 

• Reflect current or cutting-edge science through evidence-based content 

• Project is timely, relevant, creative, and innovate 

Submission Guidelines: 

• Proposals must not include confidential information (e.g., patient-, family-, or staff-identifying details) or commercial bias (e.g., company logos, equipment photos with visible branding, taglines).

• Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 
• Complete this form to submit your proposal. 

Key Dates: 

• Submission Deadline: February 14, 2025, by midnight 

• Acceptance Notifications: By March 1, 2025 

Important Notes: 

• Submitting a proposal does not register you for the conference. 

• There is no fee to submit, but if accepted, presenters are responsible for costs associated with printing their poster, travel, accommodations, and conference registration. 

For more information, please contact Adriane Burgess at aburgess@marylandpatientsafety.org. 

This is your opportunity to join over 500 healthcare leaders and professionals dedicated to advancing patient safety. This year’s event will highlight how organizations across the care continuum are addressing system-wide safety challenges while aligning with new national recommendations and standards. Healthcare professionals, from frontline staff to executive leaders, will gather to explore actionable insights, practical strategies, and innovative solutions that shape the future of patient safety. 

For sponsors and exhibitors, the Maryland Patient Safety Conference 2025 offers unparalleled opportunities to showcase your solutions, network with key decision-makers, and gain visibility among a highly engaged audience. 

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors and exhibitors for their support! 

To learn more about vendor opportunities at the Maryland Patient Safety Conference 2025, download the Sponsor & Exhibitor prospectus or email contactus@marylandpatientsafety.org. 

The Maryland Patient Safety Center is committed to delivering high-quality programs and conferences that foster learning, collaboration, and improvement in patient safety. As we continue to grow and expand the impact of our work, we have introduced a nominal fee for our conference to ensure its sustainability and to cover the increasing costs associated with hosting such events, including venue, materials, and expert speakers. This change allows us to maintain the high standards attendees have come to expect while ensuring we can continue to provide valuable opportunities to advance patient safety in Maryland.

Maryland Patient Safety Conference 2025 Cancellation Policy 

To ensure the success of our event and accommodate all participants, the following cancellation policy applies: 

• Cancellations made on or before March 27, 2025 (two weeks prior to the event) will be eligible for a full refund less a $30 processing fee. 

• No refunds or changes will be processed after March 27, 2025, including but not limited to no registration transfers, and no refunds for non-attendance for any reason. 

We encourage you to review your schedule carefully before completing registration. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact us at programs@marylandpatientsafety.org 

 Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. We look forward to seeing you in April! Register for virtual attendance here.