(May 3, 2007) – Alison H. Page, M.S., M.H.A., Fairview Health Services chief safety officer, received the 2007 National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF) Chairman’s Medal, awarded in recognition of emerging leadership in the patient safety field.

“Alison Page demonstrates the ability to inspire and lead the change necessary to successfully implement patient safety improvements. She creates a culture of respect, openness, learning and teamwork that results in measurable positive change and reduction in the harm associated with errors,” said David Page, Fairview president and CEO.

A respected state and increasingly national authority on patient safety, in November 2006, Page was recognized for her leadership by the Minnesota Alliance for Patient Safety at its statewide conference.

Page has worked for transparency, accountability and collaboration in numerous state and national patient safety efforts. She was part of an effort to develop and release Minnesota’s first annual Adverse Health Care Event Public Report in 2004. She also helped to write an adverse health event disclosure policy for Minnesota hospitals and is a key leader in the development and implementation of statewide culture that supports patient safety.

Nationally, she serves on a committee to help health care organizations best adopt principles to ensure highly reliable health care, among other activities.

Alison H. Page received the Chairman’s Medal May 3 at the NPSF annual Congress in Washington D.C. Presenters included Henri R. Manasse, Jr., Ph.D., Sc.D., Chairman of the NPSF Board of Governors, Paul A. Gluck, M.D., Chairman of the NPSF Board of Directors and Diane C. Pinakiewicz, M.B.A., President, National Patient Safety Foundation.

About the National Patient Safety Foundation
The National Patient Safety Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving patient safety and reducing medical errors through leadership, research, and education. It is an unprecedented partnership of health care practitioners, institutional providers, health product providers, health product manufacturers, researchers, legal advisors, patient/consumer advocates, regulator, and policy makers committed to making health care safer for patients and making patient safety a national priority. NPSF was founded in 1997 by the American Medical Association, CNA HealthPro, and 3M, with significant support from the Schering-Plough Corporation.