Course Title – Introduction to Patient Safety
Course Introduction
We are all aware that we need to be informed and proactive about our health care, but we often struggle to understand what patient safety actually means, the specific goals patient safety efforts are trying to achieve and why it is so difficult to overcome patient safety challenges.
This course provides an introduction to the general concepts that are the foundation of all patient safety efforts and provides a foundation for patients to begin to take active steps to become informed and empowered during their interactions with the health care system.
It’s not as hard as you think! A small amount of information, the right resources and a bit of practice to test your new skills will have a positive impact on your health care experiences.
Course Objectives
After completing this course you will be able to:
- Define patient safety and understand key terms
- Explain a brief history of the patient safety movement from an early advocate
- Understand the risks patients face and what is at stake
- Utilize your new skills to become an engaged and empowered patient
Instructions For Taking The Course
This course has three lessons, each broken down into several topics. You will be directed through these in sequential order – you can not skip ahead. When you complete a topic, click on the “Mark as Complete” button at the bottom of the page. This will move you to the next topic. You can always go back and review previous lesson materials.
Test Your Knowledge
Once you have completed every Topic in a Lesson, you will be presented with a brief quiz. Use this post lesson assessment to help ensure that you understand the material before moving to the next lesson. Once you have answered all the questions correctly please click the “view questions” button to read brief explanations of the correct answers.
Certificate of Completion
Upon successfully completing the quiz for the final lesson, you will be presented with the opportunity to obtain a Certificate of Completion. Just click on the link and print the certificate, which will include your name and the date.
Contributors
Author:
Julia A. Hallisy, DDS, The Empowered Patient Coalition
Reviewers:
Helen Haskell, MA, Mothers Against Medical Error (MAME)
Rosemary Gibson, author of Wall of Silence and The Treatment Trap and leader of national quality and safety initiatives at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for 16 years.
Katherine Pischke-Winn, MBA, RN, Director, Clinical Innovation and Research, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Barrington, IL
