“What can I do?”: Strategies to Minimize Medical Errors

CE Broker Course no. 20-486397

Medical Errors is required of all Florida licensed healthcare professionals each biennium. We have heard that for many of you, it is your least favorite required course. Following 491 Board directives, and to meet 491 Licensee requirements (FS§456.013(7) (1-3); FS§491.007); (F. A. C. 64B4-6.001, 2(a), we are mandated to include the following in a Medical Errors course:

1. Root cause analysis;
2. Medical error reduction and prevention;
3. and Patient safety

To do this, we have chosen to profile the personal story of a child, Josie King, who lost her life due to a medical error in one of the world’s most renowned, prestigious U. S. hospitals, Johns Hopkins. We track her family’s experience, shared by her mother, Sorrell, leading to her family’s quest to improve conditions that led to Josie’s death, including Mrs. King’s work with key hospital staff to change hospital healthcare processes to safeguard future patients. Tracking efforts in the U. S. medical system to minimize medical errors over three decades, the hospital team found one common core factor at the root of most medical errors, communication. Given that social work clients and indeed, many Americans, view clinicians as having a special knowledge, thus we generally concur with their recommendations, we focus on the communications between medical professionals and with their patients who are our clients.

You, as Behavioral Healthcare Professionals, can assist clients by sharing information and resources to guide and equip clients with requisite knowledge and enhanced awareness to help negate unnecessary risks, theirs, or their loved ones, experiencing medical errors. As with all anytime courses, after completing a brief, multiple-choice exam with a passing score of 70 or higher, you may print a Certificate of Completion for your records. We have also included an additional tool for your use with clients which you may download, the Self-Care Plan.