Scottsdale,
Ariz. - Patient safety, especially regarding the prevention of medical errors, is the driving force behind the Institute for Healthcare Improvement‘s 100,000 Lives Campaign. The goal is to save the lives of 100,000 patients by this coming June. Some 3,000 hospitals are now participating in the campaign.
Patient safety is also a concern for physicians. As part of National Patient Safety Awareness Week, the Arizona Partnership for Implementing Patient Safety (APIPS) will hold a free, one-day conference in Phoenix on March 30th, focusing on key patient safety issues.
The morning program begins at 9am and features a presentation by Dan Ford of Oro Valley, whose topic is” “Why is patient safety important?” Mr. Ford, a member of the National Patient Safety Foundation Patient and Family Advisory Council, developed a deep passion for patient safety as the result of an adverse outcome involving his wife.
The rest of the morning session will be devoted to explaining why some physicians are sued for malpractice and why others in similar situations are not. Judy Avery, R.N., has worked the past 20 years as a Legal Nurse Consultant, assisting defense attorneys on behalf of physicians and hospitals. Her topic at 9:30am is “A Fitting Apology: Practical, Ethical and Risk Management Considerations.” Through the use of didactic information, video scenarios and interactive group exercises, she will show how effective patient-physician communication can impact a situation involving a medical error or adverse event.
After a sandwich and salad lunch, Karen Connell, M.A., B.S.N., R.N., will explore Team Communication during the afternoon session. Ms. Connell is the Assistant Manager of Risk Management Services with MICA. She maintains the key to patient safety is communication within the health care team.
The conference will be held in the upstairs conference rooms at the Arizona Medical Association, 810 W. Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. There are only 100 seats available. For information and a registration form, call Melissa Alvarez at (602) 347-6908.
The Arizona Medical Board is a participating organization in the Arizona Partnership for Implementing Patient Safety.
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