January 2020

UP FRONT

Medical interpretation is key to safety for hundreds of thousands across Massachusetts

Despite the prospect of a federal rules change, resources are growing to ensure patients can participate in their care when English is not their first language. 

five questions

Dr. Batalden explains 'coproduction,’ a new way of looking at health care

"We can’t choose not to coproduce health outcomes; we can be good partners or bad partners, but either way, health outcomes are going to be a consequence of some kind of coproduction." – Maren Batalden, M.D., M.P.H., Cambridge Health Alliance  

Safety Snapshot

Roles shift as patients and providers 'coproduce' care

From critical care to self-care at home and everywhere in between, patients are always and in different ways coproducing health outcomes.

ONE LAST THING

Betsy Lehman Center releases guide to engaging the public in programs and policy

With proven, actionable advice, this resource is intended to help organizations collaborate successfully with members of the public on health care committees, advisory councils and more.

Upcoming events

Nominations open for the Sherman Award for Excellence  

When: Nominations open January 21 and close March 8, 2020
What: The annual Sherman Award for Excellence in Patient Engagement is sponsored by the Lucian Leape Institute at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Taylor Healthcare.
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Alleviating Emotional Impact of Harm with Open Communication (Webinar)

When: January 29, 2020, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m
What: This Virtual Learning Hour from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement will focus on the role of open communication in mitigating long-term emotional and psychological effects of errors on patients and families. Panelists will provide real-life relevance to the data and provide tools on the best practices of Communication Resolution Programs from the patient and provider perspective.
Who: Julia Prentice, PhD, Director of Research at the Betsy Lehman Center; Linda Kenney, Director of Peer Support Programs at the Betsy Lehman Center; Sigall Bell, MD, Director of Patient Safety and Discovery at OpenNotes and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
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Annual Mid-Winter Leadership Forum

When:  February 7, 2020, 8:30 a.m - 2:45 p.m.
Where: Boston Marriott Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA 02466 What: Topics include technology in health care, the political landscape, new pressures on cost/transparency and patient safety. The Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association and ACHE of Massachusetts co-sponsor this event.
Who: Jody White, President & CEO, Lowell General Hospital; Marylou Sudders, MSW, ACSW, Secretary of Health & Human Services; Stephen Klasko, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health; David Cutler, PhD, Professor, Harvard University.
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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.