Armando Nahum is the Co-Founder and CEO of Safe Care Campaign, an organization dedicated to Infection Prevention.
In 2006, Armando Nahum and his wife, Victoria, began their work in patient advocacy and engagement by establishing Safe Care Campaign after three members of his family became infected in three different hospitals, in three different states, in 10 months, culminating with the death of his son, Josh. He was 27.
The Nahums have not only turned their family’s tragedy into a positive tribute to their young son but Armando’s educational presentations ,”Hospital Associated Infections: What YOU Should Know” and “Change One Thing, Change Everything” inspire hospital administrations and frontline caregivers to remind, provoke and motivate all who work across the continuum of care of their most noble challenge and moral duty to prevent these infections that annually infect more than 1.7 million and kill more than 99,000 patients in the United States.
The story of Safe Care Campaign’s work has been featured on many national and local television and radio programs, including the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, FOX News, CNN: The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, and The Dr. Oz Show, as well as in numerous articles in journals and publications including Infection Control Today and CNN’s The Empowered Patient, as well as in multiple articles in journals and magazines including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Infection Control Today.
Armando co-produced, with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), APIC, and a grant from Kimberly-Clark, a patient safety video – the health care counterpart to the FAA safety demonstration that airlines are required to show passengers before every flight. The video was created to be used as part of every hospital admission to teach patients how to insist on safe care through the practice of hand hygiene.
Armando currently sits on the CDC Council on Infection Prevention, the Georgia Hospital Association Advisory Board to Prevent Infection, and the Georgia Department of Public Health HAI Advisory Committee.
Along with Victoria, Marty Hatlie, and Dr. Tim McDonald, Armando has launched the Healthcare and Patient Partnership Institute (H2Pi) to effectively train hospitals to achieve the stated goals of CMS’ Partnership for Patients by bringing the Patient and Family members’ voice into structured and sustainable Advisory Councils.
Armando has been a driving force in establishing the Patient and Family Advisory Council for Quality and Safety (PFACQS®️) at each of the 10 MedStar Hospitals, as well as countless PFACs across the country through a partnership with Vizient, Inc.
Armando is the Patient and Family Advisor for MedStar Health Sepsis System Initiative. Through his work, he has been instrumental in passing legislation in Maryland, producing a sepsis video for patient and family education, and reducing sepsis mortality to 35%. He also won the Sherman Award and the Circle of Honor for Patient Safety Innovation from the Maryland Patient Safety Center. The MedStar Health Sepsis Initiative has become a national model being adopted by institutions across the United States.
Armando is a founding member of Patients for Patient Safety US (PFPS US), a network of dedicated individuals and organizations united in their mission to enhance the safety of healthcare in the United States. This initiative is spearheaded by individuals who have personally experienced the impact of medical errors, either as patients themselves or through their loved ones. Drawing from these deeply personal experiences, we are motivated and determined to champion our priorities, advocate for systemic changes, and foster an environment where patient safety is paramount. Together, we strive to create a healthcare system that prioritizes the well-being of every individual.
Armando is featured in Episode 4 of The Sepsis Spectrum: Microbial Mysteries. Click here to access his episode.
