International Forum on Perioperative Safety and Quality

About ISQ

The International Forum on Perioperative Safety and Quality is a joint initiative between the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. The first edition of the ISQ was held in Boston in 2017.  

Both societies recognised the need for a dedicated forum aimed at increasing the availability of safety concepts and how to implement them into routine practice, especially with a focus on quality and practice improvement along the entire perioperative pathway.  

The two societies host this forum at both the ASA’s Anesthesiology Annual Meeting and ESAIC’s Euroanaesthesia Meeting, respectively. Working groups of both societies jointly plan the scientific programme. 

Both the ESAIC and the ASA believe that collaborative efforts are needed for maintaining awareness of patient safety and quality issues on an international level, and for creating robust overarching frameworks for the practical implementation of safety and quality policies in the perioperative setting. A global meeting based on international views of patient safety and quality may also be useful for highlighting global safety and quality issues beyond the horizon of high-income countries. 

Advance the health of individuals and populations

The International Forum on Perioperative Safety & Quality (ISQ) supports and energizes the movement for health care improvement while bringing together leaders and practitioners committed to improving outcomes for patients and communities.  

This event explores how improvements in patient safety and quality will help to advance the health of individuals and populations. Attendees will hear about global perspectives, successful implementation of quality projects, and how to maximize learning from adverse events. They will also learn how to analyse success, how to engage stakeholders, and how to manage fatigue and care for second victims. The ISQ will bring the latest resources to help improve perioperative outcomes.

Educational Targets 

Educational targets will essentially focus on the following goals:  

• Provide a theoretical update on different aspects of the state of the art in the fields of patient safety in anaesthesiology and perioperative medicine (Keynote Lecture and Panels).  
• Provide a forum of scientific exchange with peers and the possibility to discuss patient safety with key opinion leaders (Break-out Sessions) 

Target Audience 

Anaesthesiologists, intensivists, residents, medical students, nurse anaesthetists, safety and quality experts, and other practitioners and professionals from all over the world, who are interested in the quality and safety of perioperative medicine.  

Expected Educational Outcomes 

After attending ISQ, delegates will be expected to:  

• Identify pathways to improve outcomes for patients and communities.  
• Assess opportunities for research into quality and safety improvement.  
• Translate international concerns on the quality and safety of care into effective action.  
• Evaluate methods to foster effective innovation in quality improvement and patient safety.