ABQAURP News
March / April 2011
“What We‘ve Got Here Is Failure To Communicate…”
Cool Hand Luke, Dr. Welby, Or Me?
AHRQ has reported that communication problems are the most common cause of medical errors. The Joint Commission has published information that communication breakdowns lead to nearly 3,000 unexpected deaths, severe injuries, and sentinel events annually. Communication failures are multi-factorial and involve both providers and patients. One frequently overlooked aspect of failed communication is poor interpretation for patients with limited English skills (LEP).
Not surprisingly, the Joint Commission study reported that LEP patients experience communication-related adverse events at a much higher rate than English speaking patients. Falls, errors related to a surgical procedure, and medication errors were the top three types of events reported for LEP patients in one Pennsylvania study. A commentary in FierceHealthcare celebrated Patient Safety Week by suggesting a focus on the often overlooked problem of poor language skills, especially in light of new Joint Commission standards addressing this issue.
One recommendation for improving communication is improving the skills of interpreters, and new Joint Commission standards will mandate formal training. One organization that exists to support this training is the new National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supported the research and development of a toolkit to assist organizations with meeting the needs of their LEP patients (as other groups have).
Clinicians, administrators, risk managers, patients, and other health care stakeholders must increase their focus on improved communication with LEP patients (and others). Perhaps the tools mentioned above can help, and there will be a time when Cool Hand Luke’s famous line won’t make us laugh (or cry)!
For further information and works cited above, please see:
- http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/pscongrpt/psini2.htm
- Joint Commission 2007 Sentinel Event Data – “What Did the Doctor Say? Improving Health Literacy to Protect Patient Safety”
- http://languageline.com/main/files/wp_joint_commission_022211.pdf
- http://www.patientsafetyauthority.org/ADVISORIES/AdvisoryLibrary/2011/mar8%281%29/Pages/26.aspx
- http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/node/54780/print
- http://www.certifiedmedicalinterpreters.org/announcements
- http://www.diversityrx.org/topic-areas/language-access?page=4
Please send inquiries and comments to rwillog@abqaurp.org, please use
Quality Column in the subject line.
We look forward to your participation in this new column.
Advance a Colleague’s Career and Help Strengthen Your Organization
As a Diplomate or AIHQ Member, you are ABQAURP’s strongest and most valuable resource. Your involvement in this year’s membership development campaign plays an essential role in ensuring the vitality of our organization. A strong membership foundation ensures a strong association!
ABQAURP will be rewarding the member who recruits the largest number of new members with a $200 Visa gift card plus a Member Spotlight on the home page of ABQAURP’s website. In addition, Diplomates and AIHQ Members continue to earn a $25 credit for each referred individual who converts to an AIHQ or Corporate Member or sits for the HCQM Certification Exam by December 31, 2011. This credit may then be used toward membership fees, publication purchases, or conference registrations. The top recruiter will be awarded the prize in January 2012. Visit www.abqaurp.org and go to the “Member’s Only” page for eligibility rules and full details.
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HCQM Certification Examination
We are now accepting applications for the 2011 International Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) Board Examination.
ABQAURP is dedicated to establishing Health Care Quality and Management as a specialty with definable standards upheld by knowledgeable experts. Information on the 2011 Examination Window will be available soon.
Professionals who have achieved certification in Health Care Quality and Management (HCQM) are deeply committed to patient safety, health care quality, and effective care. Those certified in HCQM have demonstrated superior skills in their ability to critically evaluate the literature, identify evidence-based best practices, and make a recommendation that balances appropriateness of services with cost and quality. HCQM certification addresses the need for effectiveness, efficiency, equity, safety, and timeliness.
Visit the website at www.abqaurp.org and choose Certification for more information.
Is Your Medical Education Accredited?
ABQAURP welcomes applications for joint sponsorship of educational activities for continuing education credit. ABQAURP accredits a variety of activities, including:
- Live Activity
- Internet Activity Live
- Enduring Material
- nternet Activity Enduring Material
- Journal-Based CME
- Performance Improvement
ABQAURP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor continuing medical education for physicians and is also accredited by the Florida Board of Nursing to sponsor nursing contact hours. As an accredited provider, ABQAURP is here to work with each joint sponsor organization to ensure the accreditation process runs as smoothly as possible. Benefits of working with ABQAURP include: one-on-one assistance, on-site assistance, contact for speakers and commercial supporters, evaluation compilation, one-time mailing list to drive attendance, website placement, and advertising in Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare magazine.
ABQAURP believes that ongoing continuing education in new research, identified problem areas in clinical practice, and areas of interest in the quality assurance, utilization review, risk management, and managed care fields is a worthy endeavor to pursue. Participants improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of health care delivered to the patients to improve the overall clinical outcome. Plus, each activity encourages participants to put into practice knowledge learned and assess the impact. Innovative courses provide important updates and practical tools for all health care professionals. These activities ensure that participating health care professionals receive up-to-date information on the ever-changing health care environment.
For more information, please call Deborah Naser at (800) 998-6030, ext. 118.
Member Update
Take a look at the newly updated website just launched… same member information, more user friendly! Also, “Like” us on Facebook and join in a Discussion for a chance to win exciting prizes. Discussion questions are posted weekly with prize drawings every month.
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