This educational monograph addresses the identification, reporting, monitoring and reduction of medical error. It is intended to make participants aware of the magnitude of the problem, of the many-leveled activities needed to resolve it, and the importance of each person’s role in the national effort to reduce medical errors.

This activity is intended for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals at all levels and settings in the healthcare industry.

• Recognize the magnitude and far reaching effects of medical error;
• Categorize factors contributing to the occurrence of medical error;
• Describe the healthcare professional’s role in identifying error prone situations;
• Explain the importance of reporting medical error;
• Specify at least two recommended practice modifications to promote safety and reduce the incidence of medical error;
• Review the processes of root cause analysis and failure mode and effects analysis when analyzing error.

In order to receive credit, participants should read the entire monograph, complete and submit an evaluation and score at least 70% on the self-assessment test. AKH Inc. allows for one (1) re-test at no additional charge; additional re-tests must be purchased again at the full cost. Certificates will be available in the transcripts upon successful completion of the self-assessment test. If you have questions about this CME/CE activity, please contact AKH Inc. at [email protected].

Mary Kathleen Ebener PhD, RN

Dr. Ebener teaches courses in nursing, healthcare and statistical analysis. She is currently employed at, Florida State College at Jacksonville in Jacksonville, Florida as Dean of Nursing. She holds a BSN from Illinois Wesleyan University; her MSN is from Andrews University, MI; and her PhD. is from the University of Florida, Gainesville.  Dr. Ebener discloses no significant financial relationships with pharmaceutical or medical product manufacturers.

AKH, Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare, respectfully acknowledges Peggyann Zaenger, BS, PharmD, Jonathan S. Holman, BS, PharmD, and Christine Redfield, BS, PharmD for their original contributions to the creation and review of this activity in 2011. Since that time, Dr. Ebener has been the sole faculty to review and update the content.

Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN - Lead Nurse Planner of AKH has nothing to disclose.

Dorothy Duffy, PharmD - Pharmacy Reviewer has nothing to disclose.

AKH Staff and Planners have nothing to disclose.

Physicians

AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AKH Inc. designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Physician Assistants

NCCPA accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME.

Nursing

AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This activity is awarded 2.0 contact hours.

Nurse Practitioners        

AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is accredited by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as an approved provider of nurse practitioner continuing education. Provider Number: 030803.

This activity is awarded 2.0 contact hours which includes 0 hours of pharmacology. Activity ID #11185-20

This activity was planned in accordance with AANP Accreditation Standards and Policies.

FL Nursing

AKH Inc., Advancing Knowledge in Healthcare is approved as a provider of continuing education through the Florida Board of Nursing, provider #50-2560.  This activity is awarded 2.0 contact hours.

Professions not specifically listed should check with their licensing or certification boards regarding acceptable continuing education credit.

This activity is NOT supported by a commercial educational grant.

It is the policy of AKH Inc. to ensure independence, balance, objectivity, scientific rigor, and integrity in all of its continuing education activities. The faculty must disclose to the participants any significant relationships with commercial interests whose products or devices may be mentioned in the activity or with the commercial supporter of this continuing education activity. Identified conflict of interest is resolved by AKH prior to accreditation of the activity. AKH planners and reviewers have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

This educational activity does not include discussion of uses of agents that are investigational and/or unapproved by the FDA. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

AKH Inc.’s courses are designed solely to provide healthcare professionals with information to assist in their practice and professional development. The courses are researched thoroughly, utilizing current literature and including practical experiences. AKH’s courses are not to be considered a diagnostic tool to replace professional advice or treatment. The courses serve as a general guide to the healthcare professional, and therefore, they cannot be considered as giving legal, nursing, medical, or other professional advice in specific cases. AKH educational courses do not endorse commercial products. The author(s) and the publisher specifically disclaim responsibility for any adverse consequences resulting directly or indirectly from information in the courses. AKH further disclaims any responsibility for undetected errors, or from the reader’s misunderstanding of the course.

No part of this publication may be produced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.