Risk Management Consult

Avoiding Never Events

Overview

“Never events” result in serious patient injury and are usually avoidable, and therefore should never be allowed to occur. Examples range from egregious errors like wrong-site surgery to the more common medication errors. Some never events take place within the medical office, and others in the hospital All can usually be avoided through adherence to patient safety protocols. This course outlines how physicians and other healthcare providers can work together to prevent never events, improve patient safety and reduce the risk of such errors.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, users should be able to:

1. Define what a never event is.

2. List the six categories of never events, and provide at least one example from each.

3. Explain how root cause analysis and systems analysis work, and how they can be used to prevent never events.

4. Explain the importance of teamwork in preventing never events.

5. Describe the role of safety protocols in preventing never events.

Target Audience

This course is designed for physicians, nurses and other providers who care for patients in any setting, including hospitals, clinics, and private offices.

Metholodogy

This is a self-study course consisting of text and CME test. Physicians should read the course content, answer the test questions and submit the answers for scoring. Those who complete the course with a score of 80 percent or higher will earn a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 creditsTM.

Faculty/Author

This course was developed by Rosemary Gafner, Ed.D. and James E. Schutte, Ph.D.  Their CVs are available online at https://www.medrisk.com/Medrisk/Faculty/CV/default.aspx.

James E. Schutte, Ph.D., contributed research and content to this course. 

CME Information

Medical Risk Management, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing education for physicians. Medical Risk Management, Inc.designates this continuing medical education activity for a maximum of 6 AMA PRA Category 1 creditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity is valid for release May 1, 2010 and expires on April 30, 2013.

Commercial Support

This activity was developed solely by Medical Risk Management, Inc. without support from any commercial interest.

Disclosure

Neither Dr. Gafner nor Dr. Schutte has any relevant financial relationship with any commercial interest.