Preventing Medical Errors & Improving Patient Safety
Course Abstract
Preventing Medical Errors & Improving Patient Safety is a 2-hour online continuing education (CE/CEU) course that illustrates the kinds of errors that occur in healthcare practice and offers strategies to help clinicians increase their effectiveness, thereby reducing the potential for making “medical” errors. This course satisfies the requirements of the Florida State Legislature mandating a two-hour course relating to the prevention of medical errors as part of the licensure and renewal process for health professionals and meets the medical error renewal requirement for Florida Occupational Therapists (OTs).
The author notes the overlap between the prevention of medical errors, laws & rules, and ethics, explaining that having a thorough understanding of, and adhering to, one’s legal and ethical responsibilities, goes a long way to minimizing errors. This is followed by an overview of medical errors and their causes. A glossary of terms is provided.
We look at the two different ways of viewing and managing human error (the Person Approach and the System Approach), and reflect on the descriptions and examples of medical errors as provided. Case studies are used to highlight the types of practice errors that occur in practice and their very real consequences for clients. The author details the importance of the assessment process before planning treatment; the difficulties in diagnosing patients; and the necessity of critical thinking when assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients. Criteria for differentiating scientific from pseudoscientific treatment claims are provided.
We explore the possible causes of communication failures and how they affect patient outcomes. This includes discussions on raising the health literacy, the effects of health consumerism, and the importance of cultural competence when interacting with patients.
The author focuses on root cause analysis, error reduction & prevention, and patient safety. Printable handouts with tips and strategies for error prevention, and online resources are included.
Outline
- Introduction
- A Closer Look at Medical Errors
- Communication Failures
- Error Reduction and Prevention
- Medical Errors: Communication, Planning, and Execution
- Summary and Conclusions
Course #21-59 | 2024 | 44 pages | 15 posttest questions
Learning Objectives
- Distinguish between human error and system failure
- Categorize five examples of medical errors as resulting from inadequate assessment, poor planning, or communication failure
- Compare the three types of communication failures that can lead to medical errors
- Demonstrate the root cause analysis process of identifying and analyzing errors to prevent reoccurrence
- Differentiate between the ten criteria for distinguishing scientific from pseudoscientific treatment claims
- Illustrate ten strategies healthcare professionals can use to prevent medical errors
Course Directions
This online course provides instant access to the course materials (PDF download) and CE test. The course is text-based (reading) and the CE test is open-book (you can print the test to mark your answers on it while reading the course document).
Successful completion of this course involves passing an online test (80% required, 3 chances to take) and we ask that you also complete a brief course evaluation.
About the Author(s)
CE Information
Occupational Therapy
Professional Development Resources is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development. Course approval ID #9227 | End date: 3/20/2029. This distance learning-independent course is offered at 0.2 CEUs, intermediate level, OT Service Delivery/Professional Issues]. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA.
Professional Development Resources is CE Broker compliant (#50-1635 - all courses are reported within two business days of completion).
