The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the implementation of nine specific measures to improve patient safety.

After launching the "World Wide Challenge for Patient Safety" campaign in October 2005, WHO launched another major campaign in 2007 for the prevention of "medical accidents." Medical accidents are not complications of the original illness. To the contrary, they are caused by errors or deficiencies in medical treatment. Simply put, such accidents are easily avoidable "undesirable events." Nosocomial infections are medical accidents.

WHO proposes nine specific measures to prevent medical accidents. Countries that implemented these measures have found them to be very successful.

1)       Standardize the names of all medications in order to prevent medication errors.

2)       Clearly identify patients.

3)       Improve communication when transferring patients from one establishment to another.

4)       Provide appropriate treatment in a timely manner.

5)       Institute more effective control of concentrated electrolyte solutions.

6)       Specify a patient's medications during transfers.

7)       Avoid incorrect insertion of catheters and tubes.

8)       Use disposable needles and discard them immediately after use.

9)       Institute better hand cleanliness measures in order to prevent nosocomial infections.