Throughout the year, health observances raise awareness for a variety of conditions and remind consumers to stay on top of their health. Hospitals, healthcare nonprofits, patients, media outlets, and even influencers celebrate these days, weeks, and months.
Check out Healthgrades’ list of 2024 Health Observances below:
January 2024
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| Maternal Health Awareness Day | January 23 |
| Healthgrades Announces America’s Best Hospitals for 2024 | January 23 |
| Healthgrades Releases 2024 Specialty State Rankings | January 23 |
| World Leprosy Day | January 28 |
February 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week | February 7-14 |
| Heart Failure Awareness Week | February 11-17 |
| Sepsis Survivor Week | February 11-17 |
| National Condom Week | February 14-21 |
| National Eating Disorder Awareness Week | February 26 – March 4 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Cancer Day | February 4 |
| National Wear Red Day | February 3 |
| Give Kids A Smile ® Day | February 2 |
| National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day | February 7 |
| Toothache Day | February 9 |
| Healthgrades Announces Top Hospitals for Outpatient Joint Replacement | February 13 |
| Healthgrades Announces Top Hospitals for Outpatient Orthopedic Surgery | February 13 |
| National Donor Day | February 14 |
| National Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day | February 22 |
| Rare Disease Day | February 29 |
March 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Pulmonary Rehabilitation Week | March 10-16 |
| Patient Safety Awareness Week | March 10-16 |
| National Sleep Awareness Week | March 10-16 |
| National Poison Prevention Week | March 17-23 |
| Brain Awareness Week | March 11-17 |
| National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week | March 18-24 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Birth Defects Day | March 3 |
| National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day | March 10 |
| Healthgrades Announces Top Hospitals for Patient Experience | March 12 |
| Healthgrades Announces Top Hospitals for Patient Safety | March 12 |
| World Kidney Day | March 14 |
| World Sleep Day | March 15 |
| National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day | March 19 |
| World Oral Health Day | March 20 |
| World Down Syndrome Day | March 21 |
| World Tuberculosis Day | March 24 |
| American Diabetes Alert Day | March 26 |
| Epilepsy Awareness – Purple Day | March 26 |
| National Doctors’ Day | March 30 |
Relevant Articles
April 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Public Health Week | April 1-7 |
| Black Maternal Health Week | April 11-17 |
| Medical Laboratory Professionals Week | April 14-20 |
| Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week | April 16-22 |
| National Pediatric Transplant Week | April 21-27 |
| Pediatric Sepsis Week | April 18-24 |
| National Infertility Awareness Week | April 21-27 |
| Every Kid Healthy Week | April 22-26 |
| National Infant Immunization Week | April 22-29 |
| World Immunization Week | April 24-30 |
| Patient Experience Week | April 29 – May 3 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Autism Awareness Day | April 2 |
| World Health Day | April 7 |
| National Youth HIV and AIDS Awareness Day | April 10 |
| Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day | April 16 |
| World Hemophilia Day | April 17 |
| DNA Day | April 25 |
| World Malaria Day | April 25 |
| National Prescription Drug Take Back Day | April 27 |
| World Day for Safety and Health at Work | April 28 |
| APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day | April 30 |
May 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Physical Education and Sport Week | May 1-7 |
| Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week | May 5-11 |
| Air Quality Awareness Week | May 6-10 |
| National Nurses Week | May 6-12 |
| National Hospital Week | May 12-18 |
| Maternal Sepsis Week | May 12-18 |
| Food Allergy Awareness Week | May 12-18 |
| National Women’s Health Week | May 12-18 |
| National Stuttering Awareness Week | May 12-18 |
Days to Note:
June 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| Men’s Health Week | June 10-16 |
| Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week | June 25 – July 1 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Cancer Survivors Day | June 2 |
| World Brain Tumor Day | June 8 |
| Family Health and Fitness Day | June 8 |
| World Blood Donor Day | June 14 |
| Autistic Pride Day | June 18 |
| World Sickle Cell Day | June 19 |
| World Vitiligo Day | June 25 |
| National HIV Testing Day | June 27 |
Relevant Articles
July 2024
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Hepatitis Day | July 28 |
August 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Breastfeeding Week | August 1-7 |
| National Health Center Week | August 4-10 |
| OSHA’s Safe and Sound Week | August 12-18 |
| Contact Lens Health Week | August 18-24 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Lung Cancer Day | August 1 |
| International Overdose Awareness Day | August 31 |
September 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Suicide Prevention Week | September 8-14 |
| National Folic Acid Awareness Week | September 8-14 |
| Malnutrition Awareness Week | September 16-20 |
| Fungal Disease Awareness Week | September 16-20 |
| National Rehabilitation Awareness Week | September 18-24 |
| Falls Prevention Awareness Week | September 23-27 |
| Global ITP Awareness Week | September 23-27 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Sexual Health Day | September 4 |
| World Suicide Prevention Day | September 10 |
| World Sepsis Day | September 13 |
| National Celiac Disease Awareness Day | September 13 |
| Get Ready for Flu Day | September 17 |
| National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day | September 18 |
| World Alzheimer’s Day | September 21 |
| World Lung Day | September 25 |
| National Women’s Health and Fitness Day | September 25 |
| Mesothelioma Awareness Day | September 26 |
| Sport Purple for Platelets Day | September 27 |
| World Rabies Day | September 28 |
| World Heart Day | September 29 |
Relevant Articles
October 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| Mental Illness Awareness Week | October 6-12 |
| National Primary Care Week | October 6-12 |
| National PA Week | October 6-12 |
| Bone and Joint Health Action Week | October 12-20 |
| International Infection Prevention Week | October 13-19 |
| National Healthcare Quality Week | October 20-26 |
| Respiratory Care Week | October 20-26 |
| National Health Education Week | October 21-25 |
| National Pharmacy Week | October 21-27 |
| Red Ribbon Week | October 23-31 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World Meningitis Day | October 5 |
| World Cerebral Palsy Day | October 6 |
| National Depression Screening Day | October 7 |
| World Mental Health Day | October 10 |
| World Sight Day | October 10 |
| International Day of the Girl | October 11 |
| Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day | October 13 |
| Global Handwashing Day | October 15 |
| National Latino AIDS Awareness Day | October 15 |
| World Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day | October 15 |
| World Food Day | October 16 |
| National Mammography Day | October 18 |
| World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day | October 19 |
| World Osteoporosis Day | October 20 |
| National Check Your Meds Day | October 21 |
| International Stuttering Awareness Day | October 22 |
| National Prescription Drug Take Back Day | October 26 |
| World Psoriasis Day | October 29 |
| World Hypophosphatasia Day | October 30 |
November 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Diabetes Education Week | November 3-9 |
| National Radiologic Technology Week | November 3-9 |
| National Nurse Practitioner Week | November 10-16 |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Awareness Week | November 24-30 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Diabetes Heart Connection Day | November 9 |
| World Pneumonia Day | November 12 |
| World Diabetes Day | November 14 |
| World Prematurity Day | November 17 |
| Great American Smokeout | November 21 |
| National Family Health History Day | November 21 |
December 2024
Weeks to Note:
| Event | Date |
| National Handwashing Awareness Week | December 1-7 |
| National Influenza Vaccination Week | December 1-7 |
Days to Note:
| Event | Date |
| World AIDS Day | December 1 |
| International Day of Persons with Disability | December 3 |
Relevant Articles
2024 Hospital Quality Awards Calendar
The post-pandemic healthcare landscape continues to evolve as hospitals contend with a host of new and old challenges. From cross-market mergers to exponential growth in outpatient volumes, hospitals face enormous pressure to adapt and maintain a competitive edge while ensuring the best possible care for their patients.
Shifting consumer expectations represent an additional obstacle when it comes to providing an optimal care experience: Healthgrades’ research revealed that 57% of patients are now more concerned with the quality of their healthcare than they were before the pandemic.1 With more uncertainty on the horizon, it’s time to appeal to the increasingly quality-conscious consumer and make hospital quality a marketing priority.
Leverage your outstanding outcomes to give frontline staff a much-needed morale boost, increase market share, and remind your community that award-winning care is close to home.
Five opportunities to promote your dedication to quality in 2024*
- January 23 – America’s Best 50/100/250 Hospitals Awards + Specialty State Rankings
- February 13 – Outpatient Excellence Awards
- March 12 – Patient Safety Excellence + Outstanding Patient Experience Awards
- August – Obstetrics & Gynecology Awards & Ratings
- October – Specialty Excellence Awards & Ratings
*Exact dates are subject to change.
From health awareness campaigns to community charity drives, there are plenty of opportunities to promote your quality achievement all year round! Plus, Healthgrades Hospital Quality Achievement licenses are good for at least a year, which means it’s not too late to start promoting your 2023 achievements.
Whether you’re looking to recruit and retain local talent or get an edge on the competition, the Healthgrades Hospital Quality Team is here to help you exceed your organization’s 2024 objectives. Connect with us today to discuss how you can showcase your best-in-class care and be the first to hear if you have any new achievements to license in 2024.
1 Consumer Insights Survey, Infosurv on behalf of Healthgrades, n=991, October 2022.
By Elizabeth Groux
Read MoreFor more information or to submit an awareness month or day for consideration, reach out to [email protected].
