Summer 2017

Up Front

For medical graduates, the real safety training starts now

As a fresh crop of physicians and nurses arrives for Massachusetts-based residencies and internships this summer, they can expect to learn some of their most important safety lessons from real-world challenges. 

Slideshow Feature

In their own words: young doctors discuss patient safety

We asked residents and interns at teaching hospitals across the state one question about patient safety. See what they had to say. 

Five Questions

Five Questions with Suzanne Swedeen, RN, MSN

“It’s all about good catches and speaking up,”

- Swedeen, quality improvement specialist in the Department of Radiology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. 

Safety News

Preventing pulmonary infections in children

Franciscan Children’s has made strong strides in preventing pneumonia and other respiratory conditions in acute pediatric patients. 

Safety Snapshot

Reducing C. difficile through diligent room cleaning

Telephone, toilet seat, light switch. By focusing on these and 14 other "high touch" surfaces in a patient's room, Spaulding Hospital reduced these infections by close to 30 percent in just a few months. 

One Last Thing

There’s a lot to be said for simplicity in reporting errors

Researchers at UnityPoint Health Trinity Cancer Center in Illinois showed it’s possible to gather more actionable data about patient safety events by simplifying the report form. 

Upcoming events

The AHRQ Safety Program for Improving Antibiotic Use: A National Program for Antibiotic Stewardship

When: August - October 2017
What: Tune in to one of five informational webinars to learn more about the 12-month project designed to improve antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic prescribing practices across acute care, long-term care, and ambulatory care facilities.
Click for more information and to register

Promising Practices – Incorporating Pharmacists into the Care Continuum

When: Tuesday, August 22, 2017 12:00 - 1:00 PM
What: Join New England QIN-QIO for this free webinar highlighting the ways that three MA community hospital systems have embedded pharmacists into their care transitions work.
Click for more information and to register

Antibiotic Stewardship National LAN Event

When: Wednesday, August 30, 2017 3:00 - 4:30 PM
What: Tune in to this webinar discussing successful physician-to-patient communication strategies to avoid unnecessary antibiotic prescribing
Click for more information and to register

IHI/NPSF 10th Annual Lucian Leape Institute Forum & Keynote Dinner

When: Thursday, September 28, 2017
What: Meet and connect with national patient safety thought leaders and peers from across health care, and listen to keynote speakers including Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo.
Click for more information and to register

Diagnostic Error in Medicine 10th International Conference

When: October 8-10, 2017
What: This year's theme is Improving Diagnosis: It Takes a Team, and the conference will explore ways to improve the diagnostic reliability with a specific focus on the importance of multi-disciplinary perspectives and teamwork.
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.