The Pay It Forward Foundation has gone to the dogs. Beginning this month, PetCo will join the foundation with their twist on the Pay It Forward bracelet. The new accessories meant to encourage pet adoption from shelters and rescue groups will bear the inscription: PAW It Forward.

Available beginning this month in the PetCo stores in the southeast, the first wave of “PAW It Forward” bracelets will be sold for $1 each. Proceeds will benefit the PetCo Foundation, which gives assistance to animal welfare groups across the country. PetCo hopes to launch a nation wide campaign later in 2009.

“When someone says something nice about your rescue pet which you have adopted from an animal rescue or another Pet Co adoption program, thank the person,” says Pay It Forward Foundation board member, creator of the “Pay It Forward” bracelet and SnugZ USA Executive Vice President Charley Johnson. “Then take your wristband off, give it to that person and ask him or her to ‘Paw It Forward’ and encourage him or her to either adopt a rescue pet or encourage someone else they know to do so.”

To read the rest of the article click here.

Precision Dynamics Corporation and Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare Magazine Recognize Hospitals for Innovation and Results in Nation’s First Patient Safety Contest

SAN FERNANDO, CA – Four hospitals have received national recognition for their progress in reducing medical errors and improving patient outcomes in the nation’s first patient safety contest. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare magazine (PSQH) and Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC), the leading provider of patient safety identification solutions, launched the contest in March, 2008 as part of an initiative to support hospitals that are taking innovative measures to address the alarming number of patients affected by preventable medical errors.

With as many as 1 in 10 U.S. patients injured and 100,000 dying every year as the result of preventable medical errors, the contest focused on finding and recognizing those hospitals that are achieving measurable results in improving patient safety outcomes. “The contest offered a unique opportunity to see how hospitals are improving patient safety,” said Susan Carr, editor of PSQH. “They are employing a combination of approaches, including advanced technologies, communication techniques, and staff support and training to address this challenging and complex issue.”

An independent judging panel selected the following winning hospital success stories, based on how each facility used innovative products and processes to prevent medical errors and improve patient safety.

(more…)