Decreasing Medical Errors in Healthcare

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How to Take This Course:

• 1 View Course Worksheet -  View the course worksheet or print it out to review later
• 2 Read the Course Material -  As you read through, mark your answers on the course worksheet to be prepared for the exam
• 3 Take Exam -  You must achieve a score of 75% or higher in order to earn credit for the course.
• You don't need to pay for an exam until AFTER you pass it. If you have any questions or need more information, please click here.

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CE Course Description

Errors in healthcare are the third leading cause of death in the United States. This is devastating because they can be avoided and do not have to cause the amount of harm and financial costs that they currently do. It is important that all individuals who work in healthcare understand how errors occur, the impact that errors can have on individuals, providers, and systems, and have a plan for how to prevent them. This course reviews errors in medical and behavioral healthcare and offers a variety of strategies for prevention at micro and macro levels. 

Author: Sara Amundson, MSW

CE Course Objectives

1. Explore the cause of medical errors. 
2. Evaluate the impact of medical errors. 
3. Examine ways to prevent medical errors from occurring in various settings. 
4. Discuss how patients can advocate for themselves so that medical errors don't impact their care.
5. Review case studies that address medical errors in healthcare.
   

CE Course Outline

Introduction (5 mins)

1. Overview of the course objectives and structure (5 mins)

Section 1: What Are Medical Errors? (25 mins)

1. Introduction (2 mins)
2. Where Are Healthcare Services Being Delivered? (3 mins)
3. Medical Errors (5 mins)
4. How Significant Are Medical Errors? (3 mins)
5. Medical Errors Related to Misdiagnosis (3 mins)
6. How Likely Are Medical Errors to Occur? (3 mins)
7. Causes of Medical Errors (3 mins)
8. Well-Known Medical Errors (2 mins)
9. Closing (1 min)

Section 2: Medical Errors in Behavioral Health (15 mins)

1. Introduction (2 mins)
2. Misdiagnosis (5 mins)
3. Medication Errors (3 mins)
4. Seclusion and Restraint (4 mins)
5. Closing (1 min)

Section 3: The Impact of Medical Errors (10 mins)

1. Introduction (2 mins)
2. The Psychological Impact of Medical Errors (7 mins)
3. Closing (1 min)

Section 4: Ways to Prevent Errors in Healthcare (30 mins)

1. Introduction (2 mins)
2. Teaching Patients to Prevent Errors (4 mins)
3. Teaching Clinicians to Prevent Errors (4 mins)
4. Systemic Ways to Prevent Errors in Healthcare (5 mins)
5. A Culture of Communication (3 mins)
6. Risk Management in Healthcare (3 mins)
7. Models for Analyzing Errors (9 mins):
   1. Sharp and Blunt End Evaluation (3 mins)
   2. Failure Mode and Effects Analysis Model (3 mins)
   3. Root Cause Analysis (3 mins)
8. Closing (1 min)

Section 5: The Hierarchical Nature of Healthcare (10 mins)

1. Introduction (2 mins)
2. The Hierarchy (4 mins)
3. The Hierarchy Between Doctors and Patients (3 mins)
4. Closing (1 min)

Section 6: Need for More Appropriate Healthcare Training (10 mins)

1. Introduction (2 mins)
2. Healthcare Training: Tools to Consider (7 mins)
3. Closing (1 min)

Section 7: Case Studies (15 mins)

1. Case Study 1: Charlie (4 mins)
2. Case Study 2: Larita (4 mins)
3. Case Study 3: Travis (4 mins)
4. Case Study 4: Laurie (3 mins)

Total Time: 120 minutes (2 hours)
Course Level: Introductory

Course Date: 2021-05-18

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