October Healthcare Recognition Days - 2017
Month-long Observances
American Pharmacists Month
American Pharmacists Month recognizes the significant contributions to healthcare and the commitment to patient care by pharmacists in all practice settings around the country.
American Pharmacists Association – http://www.pharmacist.com
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month (MUAM)
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month is designed to increase public awareness around the role of diagnostic medical sonographers in the medical community and promote their value in healthcare.
Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography - http://www.sdms.org
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This event is a collaboration of national public service organizations, professional medical associations and government agencies working together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease and provide greater access to services.
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. - http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Dental Hygiene Month focuses on increasing public awareness of the importance of educating the entire family on situations impacting their oral health.
American Dental Hygienists Association - http://www.adha.org
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.
U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy - http://www.dol.gov/odep
National Medical Librarians Month
National Medical Librarians Month highlights and raises awareness of the important role of the health sciences information professional in finding quality health information.
Medical Library Association - http://www.mlanet.org
National Physical Therapy Month
National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM) recognizes and celebrates physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and physical therapy students. It helps show how they transform society by restoring and improving motion in people’s lives.
American Physical Therapy Association - http://www.apta.org
Week-long Observances
October 1-7 Mental Illness Awareness Week
The National Alliance on Mental Illness encourages organizations and individuals to help raise awareness of mental illness, treatment and research.
National Alliance on Mental Illness - www.nami.org
October 1-7 National Healthcare Food Service Workers Week
The first week in October is set aside to recognize the important role that foodservice staff have in helping the employees and patients of healthcare facilities stay well-nourished and healthy.
Association for Healthcare Foodservice - http://www.healthcarefoodservice.org
October 1-7 National Healthcare Supply Chain Week
The first week of October is dedicated to celebrating resource and materials management professionals for their outstanding contributions to healthcare and the overall success of the supply chain field.
Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management - http://www.ahrmm.org
October 1-7 National Midwifery Week
National Midwifery Week is held Sunday to Saturday during the first full week of October. It recognizes the contributions certified midwives (CMs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) make to the health and well-being of women and their families.
American College of Nurse-Midwives - http://www.midwife.org
October 1-7 Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging Week
The first week in October is dedicated to encouraging community members to take pride in their profession. It allows physicians, technologists, scientists, and others involved in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to take a proactive role in the advancement of the field.
Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - http://www.snmmi.org
October 2-6 Pediatric Nurses Week
The Society of Pediatric Nurses celebrates the specialty practice of pediatric nursing and the professionals dedicated to promoting the optimal health of children and excellence in the nursing care of children and their families. The week calls attention to the critical work pediatric nurses provide to improve healthcare delivery.
Society of Pediatric Nurses - http://www.pedsnurses.org
October -TBA- National Gerontological Nursing Week
The National Gerontological Nursing Association celebrates this week to raise awareness of the growing need for gerontological nurses, and for increased training and educational opportunities that will equip nurses to meet the needs of older adults.
National Gerontological Nursing Association - http://www.ngna.org
October 6-12 National Physician Assistants Week
Intended to support, celebrate, highlight and recognize the significant impact PAs have made and continue to make in healthcare. Held from October 6 to 12, the week is also used to expand awareness of the profession nationwide and to salute the outstanding growth of America’s more than 100,000 certified PAs.
American Academy of Physician Assistants - http://www.aapa.org
October 8-14 Emergency Nurses Week
Emergency Nurses Week is dedicated to recognizing emergency room nurses. The week celebrates the hardworking nursing professionals who care for those people most in need.
Emergency Nurses Association - http://www.ena.org
October 8-14 International Central Service Processing Week
Held the second Sunday in October, this event recognizes the important role that central service and sterile processing teams play in supply-distribution and processing of surgical instrumentation, as well as patient safety.
International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management - http://www.iahcsmm.org
October 8-14 National Case Management Week
National Case Management Week is the second week in October. It’s an opportunity to recognize the dedication, compassion and patient-care outcomes achieved by hospital case managers.
American Case Management Association - http://www.acmaweb.org
October 8-14 National Recognition Week for Hemodialysis Technicians
The National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists designates the second full week in October each year to recognize hemodialysis technicians who are involved in patient care, dialyzer reuse, equipment maintenance, kidney transplantation and administrative areas.
National Association of Nephrology Technicians/Technologists - http://www.dialysistech.net
October 15-21 International Infection Prevention Week
International Infection Prevention Week raises awareness of the role infection prevention plays to improve patient safety. The week provides a focal point for infection preventionists, healthcare professionals, consumers, organizations and industry partners to highlight infection prevention and its power to save lives. The event takes place the third week of October.
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology - http://www.apic.org
October 15-21 National Healthcare Quality Week
National Healthcare Quality Week highlights the work of healthcare quality and patient safety professionals and their influence on improved patient care outcomes and healthcare delivery systems. It is held the third full week of October.
National Association for Healthcare Quality - http://www.nahq.org
October 15-21 National Hospital & Health-System Pharmacy Week
National Hospital & Health-System Pharmacy Week acknowledges the invaluable contributions that pharmacists and technicians make to patient care.
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists - http://www.ashp.org
October 15-21 National Medical Assistants Week
National Medical Assistants Week recognizes medical assistants’ vital role and contributions to the patient-healthcare team while raising awareness of the profession. It is celebrated during the third week in October.
American Association of Medical Assistants - http://www.aama-ntl.org
October 22-28 National Red Ribbon Week
National Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation, reaching millions of young people annually. Displaying a red ribbon is a symbol of intolerance of drug use. This event occurs October 23-31.
National Family Partnership - http://www.redribbon.org
October 22-28 National Healthcare Facilities & Engineering Week
This event, which is usually celebrated annually during the fourth week of October, recognizes the important role that facility managers and engineers play in ensuring a safe and functional environment for all patients, visitors and staff.
American Society for Healthcare Engineering - http://www.ashe.org
October 22-28 National Massage Therapy Awareness Week
This event was established to recognize and increase awareness of the benefits and value of massage therapy in health and wellness.
American Massage Therapy Association - http://www.amtamassage.org
October 22-28 National Respiratory Care Week
This annual event recognizes respiratory care therapists and celebrates their profession while raising awareness of lung health issues and practices.
American Association for Respiratory Care - http://www.aarc.org
October 22-28 Pastoral Care Week
Pastoral Care Week celebrates those who provide spiritual counseling to others. It gives opportunities for organizations and institutions of all kinds and types to recognize the spiritual caregivers in their midst and the ministry caregivers provide.
COMISS Network - http://www.pastoralcareweek.org
October -TBA- Healthcare Security & Safety Week and Officers Week
This week was created to celebrate the role of healthcare security and safety professionals in serving healthcare facilities, personnel, patients and visitors.
International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety - http://www.iahss.org
Recognition Days
October 11 Emergency Nurses Day
Emergency Nurses Day recognizes hardworking emergency nursing professionals who play an integral role in emergency departments, providing critical care where it is most needed.
Emergency Nurses Association - http://www.ena.org
October 17 National Pharmacy Technician Day
The third Tuesday of October is designated for celebrating the valued contribution of Pharmacy Technicians.