Arizona Partnership 
About Us
Mission
The Arizona Partnership Implementing Patient Safety (APIPS) is committed to promoting a safe health care environment for all Arizonans.
Vision
Healthcare in Arizona is nationally recognized as safe for consumers and healthcare providers.
Our Goals
To improve patient safety, the quality of healthcare and health outcomes by:
- Using an interdisciplinary approach
- Strengthening communication and collaboration among healthcare professionals
- Increasing consumer awareness and participation in the improvement of health care delivery
- Providing professional education and resource materials to healthcare professionals and consumers.
- Seeking grants to become self sufficient and sustaining.
- Exploring opportunities to enhance patient quality of life while reducing healthcare costs.
Overview
The Arizona Medical Association’s (ArMA) Patient Safety Task Force evolved into a high-functioning collaboration among numerous organizations that share common goals related to improving patient safety. In 2008, this collaborative group became a 501(c)3, as the Arizona Partnership Implementing Patient Safety (APIPS). APIPS is an interdisciplinary association of health care professionals committed to providing a safe health care environment for all Arizonans.
APIPS participants meet on a quarterly basis at HSAG Headquarters in Phoenix to discuss ways to improve patient safety and the quality of health care and health outcomes. APIPS believes that this can be done by working to strengthen interdisciplinary communication and collaboration among health care professionals, providing professional education and resource materials, and increasing consumer awareness and participation in the improvement of patient safety.
Among APIPS’ projects is the medication reconciliation form known as The Med Form. APIPS participants, including ArMA, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, and Health Services Advisory Group, developed The Med Form to reduce medication errors by promoting communication between consumers and their caregivers. The Med Form, available free to consumers online at http://www.themedform.com, continues to gain exposure both locally and nationally. In fact, The Med Form was mentioned in a May 23, 2006 Wall Street Journal article about preventing medication errors, and in February 2006, The Med Form was recognized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Save 100,000 Lives campaign.
Other APIPS programs include a publication, Practice Guidelines for Patient Safety: Correct Identification of Patients, Their Surgical Sites and Procedures, available through the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA), a partner in APIPS. APIPS has also been involved in the distribution of a physician-to-patient disaster preparedness flyer, and promotion of disaster awareness planning for physicians and patients. In 2009, APIPS worked with the Arizona affiliate of Partnership for a Drug-free America, raising awareness about teen access and abuse of prescription drugs through the program, Rx360. APIPS has also been involved in projects including collaborating on and offering guidance for the statewide e-prescribing initiative to decrease medical errors, and involvement in the integration of electronic medical records throughout the state.