Enhancing Patient Safety in Pediatric Primary Care: Implementing a Patient Safety Curriculum

Ian S Zenlea; Elene Scheff; Barbara Szeidler; Anjala Tess; Jean Santangelo; Luke Sato; Kathy J Jenkins; Glenn Focht

doi:10.1177/0009922815584929

Enhancing Patient Safety in Pediatric Primary Care: Implementing a Patient Safety Curriculum

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2015 Oct;54(11):1094-101. doi: 10.1177/0009922815584929. Epub 2015 May 13.

Authors

Ian S Zenlea¹, Elene Scheff², Barbara Szeidler³, Anjala Tess⁴, Jean Santangelo⁵, Luke Sato⁶, Kathy J Jenkins⁷, Glenn Focht⁵

Affiliations

¹ Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Brookline, MA, USA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Ian.Zenlea@trilliumhealthpartners.ca.
² Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Brookline, MA, USA Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institutions, Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA.
⁴ Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Children's, Brookline, MA, USA.
⁶ Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Risk Management Foundation of the Harvard Medical Institutions, Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA.
⁷ Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 25971462
DOI: 10.1177/0009922815584929

Abstract

Objective: We developed and implemented a patient safety (PS) curriculum targeted at clinicians and nonclinical office practice staff within a large primary care pediatric network.

Methods: Curricular content was informed by medical literature, local PS experts, and malpractice claims data. Sessions were centered on illustrative closed malpractice cases or informed by identified safety events. Participants provided subjective responses to the postsession evaluations.

Results: Invited participants from 12 practices included both clinical and nonclinical practice staff (up to 24 attendees per session). Participants reported that they were confident in their knowledge and skills. Several participants engaged in improvement projects that included active surveillance of high-risk patients, improvements in referral and test result management processes, and the distribution of patient educational materials.

Conclusions: We successfully developed and implemented a multifaceted PS curriculum for pediatric providers. Participants enjoyed the sessions and several engaged in new PS projects as a result of the program.

Keywords: continuing education; patient safety; pediatrics; primary care; quality improvement.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Boston
Child
Clinical Competence
Curriculum*
Humans
Inservice Training / methods*
Patient Safety*
Pediatrics / education*
Primary Health Care / methods*
Referral and Consultation