To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System breaks the silence that has surrounded medical errors and their consequences. Experts estimate that as many as 98,000 people die in any given year from medical errors that occur in hospitals. That is more than die from motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS -- three causes receiving far more public attention. Indeed, more people die annually from medication errors alone than from workplace injuries.

This book sets forth a national agenda with state and local implications for reducing medical errors and improving patient safety through the design of a safer health system. To Err Is Human asserts that the problem is not bad people in health care--it is that good people are working in systems that need to be made safer. Comprehensive and straightforward, this book offers a clear prescription for raising the level of patient safety in American health care. It also explains how patients themselves can influence the quality of care they receive. An excellent resource to all therapists as they stand alongside clients in need of support through illness and medical necessity.

Educational Objectives

• Understand the severity of human error in the health care industry
• Learn the factors contributing to errors in health care
• Learn methods of reducing medical errors
• Become aware of the safety strategies initiated by other industries investing in safety improvement
• Understand error reporting systems and their use in preventing recurrences
• Study how to protect voluntary reporting systems from legal discovery
• Review the performance standards necessary for safe health care delivery
• Learn the principles for designing safety systems in health care organizations

Syllabus / Course Instructions

• The Course consists of reading the selected book, successfully completing an online posttest and filling out a course evaluation.
• The book is not included. It must be purchased separately. We have supplied a link to Amazon.com for your convenience.
• Purchasing your course will give you access to both a printable copy of the test and an online version. Print the test to use as a companion as you read the book and answer the questions.
• You cannot exit the online test once you begin, so have your answers available.