Leading Global Innovation at IHF Rio 2024
This year’s International Hospital Federation (IHF) Congress in Rio was nothing short of amazing! Healthcare leaders, innovators, and changemakers from over 30 countries gathered to share ideas that could revolutionize healthcare — and guess what? Kwema was right in the mix.
Kwema’s presentation at the i-to-i Innovation Hub was a defining moment. Our technology earned us a prestigious spot as one of the Top 3 Global Innovations, joining the ranks of Stanford Medicine and the Unidade Local de Saúde Santa Maria. This recognition highlights the impact of our work and validates our mission. Ali emphasized how our patented smart badge reel protects workers while seamlessly integrating into their workflows, providing a practical and innovative safety solution for caregivers wherever they are. This honor not only acknowledges our efforts but also reinforces the urgent need to address workplace violence in healthcare and prioritize safer, more empowering environments for everyone.
Kwema also participated in a poster presentation with the topic “Gold Standards in Clinician Safety: Mitigating Patient-Generated Violence,” alongside almost 200 other projects from across the globe. For this participation, we collaborated with the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) and Eric Sean Clay, Kwema’s Chief Caregiver Safety Officer, to bring awareness not only to the current scenario of workplace violence in healthcare but also to the strategies and resources provided by IAHSS that professionals and institutions can access to better protect themselves, their teams, and ultimately, create safer healthcare environments for all.
Our good friend Paul Sarnese expertly moderated a compelling discussion on enhancing employee well-being and recruitment strategies. Joined by a diverse panel of global healthcare leaders, they shared invaluable insights and initiatives aimed at supporting and retaining the healthcare workforce.
These milestones go beyond being accolades for Kwema; they reaffirm that we’re heading in the right direction by prioritizing the real-world needs of frontline workers and industry leaders alike. From healthcare professionals to security managers, their feedback drives our innovation and strengthens our commitment to ongoing evolution.
At the IHF Awards, impactful healthcare projects were celebrated, with scoring based on five key criteria: originality, impact, scalability, scientific rigor, and clarity. For the Grand Hospital Award, entries were evaluated on success in healthcare delivery — covering quality, patient experience, clinical outcomes, equity, cost efficiency, and workforce wellbeing — along with their ability to sustain achievements.
Reflecting on our journey at IHF Rio 2024, we feel both humbled and energized. This experience has fueled our passion to make workplace safety a top priority across sectors to not only protect individuals but also strengthen communities and improve outcomes for everyone. We’re just getting started, and we can’t wait to continue this journey, one safe workplace at a time. As we look ahead, we’re excited that the IHF has announced that next year’s congress will be held in Geneva, Switzerland — another opportunity to showcase our innovations and push the boundaries of workplace safety even further. Here’s to a future where safety is a given. Let ‘s keep going!
