April 2017

Up Front

How to boost safety by highlighting the accidents that didn't happen

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital has helped push its medical error rate down by a program called Great Catches that recognizes employees for spotting, and stopping, mistakes before they can do harm. 

Five Questions

Five questions with Allen Kachalia, MD, JD

After an alarming accident involving an MRI and a gurney, Allen Kachalia, MD, JD, Chief Quality Officer at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, answers five questions about the value of transparency and just culture in learning from the mistake. 

Video Feature

Voices from the 2017 Patient Safety Forum

Watch our video compilation of interviews with participants at the 2017 Patient Safety Forum, held by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors on March 30. 

Safety News

Breathing easier after resolving an intubation staffing issue

Administrators at Faulkner Hospital say training respiratory therapists to perfect the task is sustainable and cost-effective. 

An expert panel makes recommendations regarding cataract surgery. Then what?

To learn more about the impact of the panel’s work on safety of care, the Center surveyed eye physicians throughout the state. 

Safety Snapshot

Medical staff burnout

New warnings, articles and stats show growing concerns about burn-out syndrome. A graphic alert by ECRI offers tips and dos and
don’ts. 

Just One Thing

Is this new drug safe for your patient?

The Food and Drug Administration recently released its first report on the diversity of participants in clinical trials to help inform the extent to which safety and effectiveness data are based on demographic factors. 

Upcoming events

The 5th Annual Communication, Apology, and Resolution Forum

When: TODAY! Thursday, April 13, 2017 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM; 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
What: Join MACRMI in learning about the outcomes of its pilot study and new resources and find out how to work through difficult conversations when a case needs further review.
Click for more information and to register

Webinar Series

What: The Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors, and New England QIN QIO have partnered up to offer a webinar series on leveraging data reports to drive quality improvement.

CHIA’s All-Payer Hospital Report
When: Friday, April 28, 2017 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click for more information and to register

New England QIN-QIO Medicare, Fee for Service Hospital Report
When: Thursday, May 4th, 2017 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Click for more information and to register

19th Annual Patient Safety Congress

When: Wednesday, May 17 - Friday, May 19, 2017
What: The NPSF Annual Congress is a unique opportunity for practitioners, leaders, and experts around the world to come together and share their knowledge.
Click for more information and to register

Patient Safety Beat is published monthly by the Betsy Lehman Center, a state agency that uses communications, research, and data to catalyze the efforts of providers, policymakers, and consumers working toward safer health care in Massachusetts.