SaferCare Texas in alignment with its mission to “challenge traditional thinking to eliminate preventable harm” released a new patient safety microcredential.
The microcredential, called Patient Safety 101, provides participants with experiential learning and application of knowledge and skills to facilitate patient safety best practices and leadership to confidently and proactively address patient safety issues while eliminating preventable harm.
According to the CDC, approximately 1 in every 10 patients is harmed in health care while over 50 percent of harm is preventable.
“Patients rely on healthcare to recover from serious illnesses and injuries or maintain their health living with chronic disease,” said Dr. Kate Taylor, nurse practitioner and clinical executive with SaferCare Texas. “We need to take this responsibility seriously, understanding that improving patient safety can lead to better patient outcomes.”
Dr. Kate Taylor and Dr. Teresa Wagner, interim director for SaferCare Texas, are both certified professionals in patient safety (CPPS) and developed the microcredential to help address this major concern for the healthcare system and providers.
Jennifer Barrow, clinical executive with SaferCare Texas, helped to facilitate learner progress through the microcredential so that learners have professional clinician support.
To earn the patient safety microcredential, learners will complete four milestones delivered through a blend of asynchronous online modules, and synchronous virtual or in-person volunteer activities. The four milestones are:
Milestone 1: Patient Safety 101
Milestone 2: Culture of Safety and Leadership (Including Just Culture)
Milestone 3: High-Reliability Organizations and Leadership
Milestone 4: Introduction To The Science of Improvement
Wagner hopes that this microcredential will encourage healthcare providers to take an active role in eliminating ongoing preventable harm.
“This microcredential underscores that efforts to improve patient safety remain top priority,” said Wagner. “Through this microcredential, learners can become patient safety champions within healthcare by experiencing patient safety tools, knowledge, and leadership skills to apply within their organization or practice.”
Participants who want to expand their learning can later seek a certified professional in patient safety (CPPS) from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. This certification will further elevate their knowledge of patient safety and provide a credential indicating they are experts in patient safety efforts that can help impact the future of patient safety within healthcare.
Patient Safety 101 is now available on HSC Learning Plus. To learn more, click here.