Call for abstracts



Abstract Submission is now closed

The Conference Planning Committee invites you to submit an abstract for oral and/or poster presentation at the 
2021 Patient Safety Conference. This year’s theme is:

Safer Healthcare in a Post Pandemic World 

The Conference Planning Committee particularly invites abstracts related to the conference theme. Abstracts will be selected based on (but not limited to) the dimensions listed below:

  • Health equity, diversity and inclusiveness: the implications for safety 
  • Measurement and evaluation of the safety of virtual care models; patient, provider and funder perspectives 
  • Innovations in partnerships and engagement: patients, residents, families and staff
  • Lessons from the front-line: healthcare provider experiences with different models of healthcare delivery
  • Healthcare professional resilience: mental and physical wellbeing impacting for healthcare safety
  • Pandemic impacts on patient safety within specific disease groups, health sectors, transitions in care and specialties  
  • Innovations in patient safety during the pandemic: considerations for sustainability and generalizability post pandemic
  • Policy decisions for health system safety: informing future directions

Abstract Review Process

Abstracts will undergo a blind, peer-review process. The Abstract Review Committee will assess each abstract based on the following criteria:

  • Relevance to patient safety and/or quality improvement
  • Alignment with theme of conference
  • Clarity, originality and quality of content
  • Activities undertaken to respond to problem or issue, including how changes were tested and implemented
  • Measurement strategy, including results, challenges and lessons learned
  • Potential or actual impact on quality of care or experience for patients and/or care providers

Abstract Acceptance Requirements

All communication will be with the primary contact for the abstract submitted. Submitted abstracts will be acknowledged via email to the primary contact upon receipt. Selection will be completed and the primary contact author for the abstract will be notified via email. All successful author(s) must confirm their participation and register for the conference. All costs associated with the conference are the sole responsibility of those whose abstract has been accepted. If your abstract is accepted it will be used in conference material, including being posted online. Successful presenters must confirm the intent to present by September 17, 2021.

Submission Requirements for Abstracts

  1. Abstracts must be submitted electronically by clicking the link below.
  2. Abstracts must not exceed 350 words (excluding the title, authors’ names, references and mandatory headings).
  3. Names of authors should not appear in the text of the abstract to allow for blind peer review.
  4. Avoid the use of tables, figures, diagrams and charts in the abstract submission as this detail is not used to evaluate the merit of your abstract.
  5. Place abbreviations in parenthesis after the full word when it appears for the first time.
  6. An individual may submit more than one abstract. One submission form is required for each abstract.

Poster Presentation Guidelines

  1. The presenting author will be required to be logged into the virtual conference platform and be present at their virtual poster during the assigned presentation times to answer questions. Only one (1) author will be permitted to present the accepted poster. 
  2. The Patient Safety Conference will not cover expenses for abstract submission and expenses for developing the poster.
  3. PowerPoint presentations or a pre-recorded video must be submitted electronically in advance of the conference. Additional information about this process will be provided to successful presenters.

Oral Presentation Guidelines

  1. Each oral presentation will be 8-10 minutes in length, followed by a question/discussion period after all selected oral presentations have taken place.
  2. Only one (1) author will be permitted to present the accepted submission. All correspondence will be forwarded to the presenting author only.
  3. Presenters are required to have a microphone, camera, computer (PC) and a secure internet connection for their virtual presentation.
  4. PowerPoint presentations for oral presentations must be submitted electronically in advance of the conference. Additional information about this process will be provided to successful presenters.

Consent to use photographic, video and audio recordings

All sessions will be recorded, uploaded to YouTube as an unlisted video and posted in the OnAIR portal following the event for participants to view. All videos are unlisted therefore they are not searchable within YouTube. Recordings will be linked to the virtual conference portal and available for one year following the event. By submitting your abstract, you are granting permission to list your name, abstract and to have your session recorded. 

Important Dates

Call for Abstract Open: July 12, 2021
Call for Abstract Close: SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 (12:00 EDT)
Notification of Acceptances: September 15, 2021
Registration open: August 9, 2021

If you have any questions about the submission process or for additional information, please email julie.paquette@uottawa.ca 



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