Check Out This Month's Issue of "Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare"

The March/April 2010 issue of Patient Safety and Quality Healthcare contains a great article synthesizing the findings of MITSS's 2009 Clinician Support Forum. Click here for a copy of Disclosure and Apology: What's Missing? Advancing Programs that Support Clinicians written by Susan Carr.

Lucian Leape Institute at NPSF Releases New White Paper

The Lucian Leape Institute at the National Patient Safety Foundation released a white paper on March 10th, 2009, arguing that US medical schools fail to prepare future physicians with the skills and knowledge necessasry to ensure safe delivery of patient care. The report, "Unmet Needs: Teaching Physicians to Provide Safe Care," describes the shortcomings of the current medical education system and issues an urgent call for reform.

To read the press release and to download a copy of the report, click here.

Lucian L. Leape, MD, is the Chair of the Lucian Leape Institute and is also a Special Advisor to the MITSS Board of Directors.

The Treatment Trap -- A New Book by Rosemary Gibson

This past Tuesday, Health Care for All sponsored a program featuring Rosemary Gibson, author of The Wall of Silence. Rosemary and co-author Janardan Prasad Singh have just released a new book, The Treatment Trap -- How the Overuse of Medical Care is Wrecking Your Health and What You Can Do to Prevent It. The book explores the overuse, misuse, and underuse of medical care -- including needless surgery and other invasive procedures, out-of-control x-ray imaging, profligate testing, and other wasteful practices that have become routine among too many American doctors.

Click here to check out the book on Amazon.

Look for a profile of the author, Rosemary Gibson, in the upcoming edition of the MITSS newsletter.

2010 MITSS HOPE Award -- Call for Nominations

In honor of National Patient Safety Awareness Week (March 7th through the 13th, 2010), MITSS is pleased to announce that we are now accepting nominations for the Third Annual MITSS HOPE Award. The HOPE Award was established in 2008 to recognize people -- patients, families, healthcare providers, hospitals (or teams or departments therein), academic institutions, community health centers, grass roots organizations, EAP programs, etc. -- who exemplify the mission of MITSS: Supporting Healing and Restoring Hope to patients, families, and clinicians impacted by adverse medical events. The winner of the Award will receive a $5,000 cash prize to continue their work.

The 2010 Sponsor of the HOPE Award is rL Solutions.

Nominations are due by September 15th, 2010, and the Award will be presented at the MITSS 9th Annual Dinner and Fundraiser to be held on Thursday, November 4, 2010, at The Westin Copley Place, Boston, MA.

For eligibility criteria and submission requirements, click here. Take this opportunity to nominate someone who is doing great work. Note that self-nominations will be acceptable. Visit www.mitsshopeaward.org for all things MITSS HOPE Award -- download a nomination form, check out past winners, and much, much more!!! Also, feel free to give us a call at 617) 232-0090 or toll free at 1-888-366-4877 if you have any questions.

Patient Safety Awareness Week -- March 7 through the 13th

Commemorate this important week by taking steps to support patients, their families, and clinicians impacted by adverse events. Mark your calendar, and make a "To Do List":

Monday -- Check waiting areas, reception areas, information stations, and libraries to make sure that MITSS brochures are visible and available to patients and their families. If you don't have a supply, download a copy of the MITSS brochure here, or give us a call toll free at 1-888-366-4877 to place an order.

Tuesday -- Circulate the LEND Document to staff. This important tool provides valuable information for staff when addressing the emotional impact to patients and family members in the aftermath of an adverse event. Download here.

Supporting clinicians along with patients is essential to an overall culture of respect, compassion, and patient safety. Download a free copy of the report "Disclosure and Apology...What's Missing? Advancing Programs that Support Clinicians." See what's working in other organizations, where the barriers lie, and what the opportunities are for the future.

Wednesday -- Sit down with your staff and watch The MITSS Story together. Then, have a "Healthy Conversation" about the issues raised in the film. Don't have a copy? Give us a call, or order here.

Thursday -- Schedule a Speaking Engagement with MITSS Founder and Executive Director, Linda Kenney. Click here for more information, or pick up the phone and give us a call.

Friday -- Recognize and highlight important work that is aligned with the MITSS mission of Supporting Healing and Restoring Hope to patients, families, and clinicians who have been impacted by medical errors and adverse events. Nominate an individual(s), organization, or YOURSELF for the 2010 MITSS HOPE Award. This prestigious award will be formally announced at the beginning of next week, so stay tuned for nomination information, eligibility criteria, and more!!!

Above all, we need to foster, encourage, and support Patient Safety efforts all year round. Take the time this week, and every week, to honor and remember those who have been harmed by adverse events.

Tune in to WIHI Thursday, March 4th!

What should happen in the first hour or first day after an adverse or sentinel event in your health care organization? Wait for all the facts to come in? Sequester yourselves until all the talking points have been agreed upon and legal counsel gives the go ahead to say something? For answers to these questions and more,

Don't miss Message to Managers: Crises Happen. Plan Ahead!

Thursday, March 4, 2010
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Eastern Time
This is a free audio program, but you need to be registered. Visit www.ihi.org for registration info.

This program features:

Jim Conway MS, FACHE, Senior Fellow, former Senior Vice President, Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Member, MITSS Board of Directors

Timothy McDonald, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, Associate Chief Medical Officer for Safety and Risk Management, University of Illinois-Chicago

Richard Boothman, Chief Risk Officer, University of Michigan Health System

Click here for full details.