ANNOUNCEMENT: 7 NOVEMBER 2025
2025 BUTTERFLY IMPACT AWARD: SMALL ACTIONS, BIG CHANGES
CELEBRATING INNOVATIVE PROJECTS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PATIENT SAFETY
At the European Patient Safety Conference in Munich on 24 October 2025 we proudly presented the finalists for the second edition of the Butterfly Impact Award in Patient Safety.
Inspired by the ‘butterfly effect,’ where even small actions can create far-reaching impacts, this award honours projects that have successfully implemented innovative practices with measurable, evidence-based benefits for patient safety, emphasising a no-tech or low-tech approach. The second edition, organised with our German partners for this year’s conference — the German Coalition for Patient Safety (APS) and TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar — celebrates innovation through accessible and sustainable approaches.
“Our goal with this award is to encourage exchange and mutual learning. This is why we chose to highlight projects not restricted by commercial licences, whose creators are committed to sharing their practices openly for broader adoption. Because, at the end of the day, that would wonderful that these good ideas could be adapted and reproduced in other healthcare environments across Europe.” said Pedro Vieira Dos Santos, Vice-President of the European Patient Safety Foundation, at during his introductory speech announcing the finalists.
An independent panel of patient safety experts evaluated each submission based on level of innovation, proven impact on patient safety, involvement of healthcare professionals and patients, and the feasibility and adaptability of each project across various contexts. The panel, representing healthcare professionals, patient organizations, and industry, selected three outstanding projects as finalists.
Following presentations by the finalists, the conference audience cast their votes, and we are delighted to announce:
THE WINNER OF THE 2025 BUTTERFLY IMPACT AWARD IN PATIENT SAFETY:
Mental Health for Health Professionals (MeSu) Project, a simple yet comprehensive and sustainable model for improving staff well-being, presented by Dr. Pernille Cedergreen, Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen. The MeSu model is the supportive conversation – a peer-to-peer interaction grounded in empathy, presence, and psychological safety. Staff are trained to initiate and carry out these conversations in real-time, within the clinical setting. For more serious events, selected clinicians and leaders are trained in evidence-based techniques such as defusing. When needed, psychological services remain available for the most complex needs. This layered support model empowers clinical teams to address everyday stressors, share emotional load, and build collegial trust. By building capacity within clinical teams to support each other, we are not only addressing immediate distress — we are laying the groundwork for a more resilient, humane healthcare system. The project initially piloted in a Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev Gentofte Hospital, Capital Region of Denmark and is now being scaled hospital-wide at Herlev Gentofte Hospital.
Inge Kristensen, CEO of the Danish Society for Patient Safety, received the prize on behalf of the whole team working on the project. Our sincere congratulations go to all authors: Dr. Pernille Cedergreen, Department of Anaesthesiology, Herlev Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen; Dr. Jacob Nielsen, MD, Senior Consultant; Dr. Simon Tulloch, Senior Consultant (Psychiatry); and Prof. Doris Oestergaard and Prof. Peter Dieckmann, CAMES, Copenhagen.
Butterfly Impact Award in Patient Safety 2025 winner, presented during the Award Ceremony at the European Patient Safety Foundation (EUPSF) Patient Safety Conference on 24 October 2025 in Munich, Germany. From left to right: Ms Kira Tosberg, EUPSF Board Member; Mrs Inge Kristensen, CEO of the Danish Society for Patient Safety and representative of the BIAPS 2025 winner; Mr Pedro Vieira Dos Santos, EUPSF Vice-President.
SECOND PRIZE OF THE 2025 BUTTERFLY IMPACT AWARD IN PATIENT SAFETY:
From Silence to Support: Implementing a Hybrid Physician Handover Meeting in Medicine
Developed and presented by Dr. Ganesh Arunachalam, Consultant Physician in Elderly Care, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow Town, United Kingdom, this project introduced a hybrid medical handover model, combining in-person ward teams with remote consultant participation via Microsoft Teams to strengthen decision-making and patient safety during out-of-hours care. By standardising handover lists and ensuring consistent senior oversight without additional staffing, the initiative improved communication, reduced errors, and increased junior doctors’ confidence in escalation and discharge decisions.
Butterfly Impact Award in Patient Safety 2025 – Second Prize, presented during the Award Ceremony at the European Patient Safety Foundation (EUPSF) Patient Safety Conference on 24 October 2025 in Munich, Germany. From left to right: Ms Kira Tosberg, EUPSF Board Member; Dr Ganesh Arunachalam, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow Town, United Kingdom; Mr Pedro Vieira Dos Santos, EUPSF Vice-President.
THIRD PRIZE OF THE 2025 BUTTERFLY IMPACT AWARD IN PATIENT SAFETY:
Developing a Low-Fidelity Simulation Curriculum to Improve Patient Safety Across a University Hospital
Led by Dr. Hannah Wehrmann, Assistant Physician in Pediatrics, Teaching Faculty Member, University of Witten/Herdecke & Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Germany, this project established a structured, low-cost simulation-based training (SBT) curriculum to improve patient safety, teamwork, and communication across paediatric and adult care settings. By integrating regular in-situ simulations using expired materials, basic technology, and psychological safety principles into routine working hours, the initiative demonstrated that meaningful, system-wide safety improvements can be achieved sustainably without expensive equipment.
Butterfly Impact Award in Patient Safety 2025 – Third Prize, presented during the Award Ceremony at the European Patient Safety Foundation (EUPSF) Patient Safety Conference on 24 October 2025 in Munich, Germany. From left to right: Ms Kira Tosberg, EUPSF Board Member; Dr Hannah Wehrmann, University of Witten/Herdecke & HELIOS University Hospital Wuppertal, Germany; Mr Pedro Vieira Dos Santos, EUPSF Vice-President.
Congratulations to the winners and a heartfelt thank you to all participants in this award competition. Your dedication to advancing patient safety through innovative, shareable practices is truly inspiring and deserves our deepest respect and support. We wish you continued success in your efforts!
We warmly invite anyone interested in adapting or replicating these projects within their own work environments to reach out for further information.
Through the Butterfly Impact Award, the European Patient Safety Foundation continues to foster collaboration and innovation, building a safer healthcare environment across Europe. We warmly invite healthcare professionals, organisations, and patient advocates to collaborate with us in advancing patient safety.
For inquiries on adapting or replicating these impactful projects, please contact:
secretariat@eupsf.org | www.eupsf.org | https://conference.eupsf.org/
About the European Patient Safety Foundation
The European Patient Safety Foundation is an independent foundation uniting experts and leading organizations to advance patient safety across Europe. By involving stakeholders such as patient organizations and advocates, healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, academia, and life sciences companies in our governance and activities, we bring together complementary perspectives to develop solutions tailored to the complexity of patient safety challenges.
About the EUPSF Patient Safety Conference 2025
The EUPSF Patient Safety Conference is the annual conference of the EUPSF, designed to strengthen and empower a network of leading organizations and individuals across Europe who strive to improve patient safety and quality of care. The conference bridges the gap between European and local dimensions, bringing forward common challenges, best practices, and avenues for cooperation. Each year, the conference is organized in collaboration with local organizations active in patient safety. In 2025, EUPSF had the pleasure to collaborate with the German Coalition for Patient Safety – Aktionsbündnis Patientensicherheit e.V. (APS) and TUM Klinikum Rechts der Isar for the organisation of the 2025 EUPSF Patient Safety Conference held in Munich on 24 October 2025, and entitled “Rethinking patient safety: Evolving roles and responsibilities
in a changing healthcare landscape”. https://conference.eupsf.org/
