Jeddah is where Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel presented King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH) with the National Patient Safety Award in the Emotional Safety category.
According to SPA, the award recognizes a strategy designed to foster participation and collaboration by empowering employees to identify improvement opportunities and translate them into initiatives for patient safety and care quality.
The strategy was developed over 19 months and implemented in three phases using periodic surveys to measure the workplace environment and emotional safety. These results led to initiatives focused on work-life balance, communication, and teamwork. Employee engagement increased during this process, with survey response rates rising from 56% to 93%.
The Saudi Patient Safety Center issued the award to recognize innovative projects that promote best practices and continuous improvement in healthcare quality. KFSH has also been ranked 12th globally and first in the Middle East and Africa among the top 250 academic medical centers for 2026.
Why did KFSH-Jeddah receive the National Patient Safety Award? KFSH-Jeddah received the award in the Emotional Safety category for its strategy to foster collaboration and participation. This approach empowered employees to identify opportunities for improvement and turn them into initiatives that enhance the quality of care and patient safety.
How was the emotional safety strategy developed and measured? The strategy took 19 months to develop and was implemented through three phases of periodic surveys. These surveys measured the workplace environment and emotional safety, with response rates increasing from 56% to 93% as a result of the strategy.
What specific improvements resulted from the KFSH surveys? Analysis of the survey results led to action-oriented initiatives focused on improving communication and strengthening teamwork. Additionally, the project launched efforts to support work-life balance and promote fairness with backing from executive leadership.