Continuing Education Provider Professional Development Resources Releases New Online Course on Preventing Medical Errors in Speech-Language Pathology

JACKSONVILLE, FL, June 05, 2013 (Press-News.org) Professional Development Resources has announced a newly revised course in its online continuing education (CE) curriculum for speech-language pathologists (SLPs): Preventing Medical Errors in Speech-Language Pathology. The course is designed to help SLPs be vigilant to the kinds medical errors that can occur in their practice and take proactive steps to prevent them.

Over the past 20 years, medical errors that result in patient injury or even death have become the focus of attention in both popular and professional publications. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines a medical error as: "The failure to complete a planned action as intended or the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim." Medical errors - which can occur in either the planning stage or the execution stage - are frequently communication errors, which are, unfortunately, very common in health care.

A 2011 Consumer Reports Poll on Hospital Safety (Safe Patient Project, 2011) interviewed 1,026 adults ages 18+ using a nationally representative probability sample. The results:

- 77% expressed high or moderate concern re: harm by hospital infection during hospital stay
- 71% expressed high or moderate concern re: harm by a medication error
- 65% were similarly concerned about surgical errors

In the State of Florida, speech-language pathologists and other health professionals are required to complete a course on the prevention of medical errors each time they renew their licenses.

One the most common medical procedures in which speech-language pathologists have a primary role is the evaluation and treatment of swallowing and feeding disorders. Because of the nature of swallowing disorders, treatment is frequently complex, and a number of dysphagia management issues have become very contentious. In addition, the potential for error, adverse outcomes and litigation is significant.

"This newly revised course teaches everyday strategies for preventing errors that can occur in the practice of speech-language pathology," says Leo Christie, President and CEO of Professional Development Resources. "Rather than targeting individuals when a medical error happens, efforts today are focused upon those elements in the work environment like fatigue or distraction that can lead medical errors. This approach of focusing on system error over human error has proved to be useful in reducing the risk of patient injury."

Preventing Medical Errors in Speech-Language Pathology also includes a section on race and ethnicity. The authors point out that there is an increasing need for bilingual health professionals to serve the rapidly growing ethic segments of our population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2012), minorities comprise 37% of the U.S population. When professionals are not familiar with the cultural norms, customs, and languages of their patients, miscommunications can arise and cause serious diagnostic and treatment errors.

The course describes in detail a number of patient safety goals and concludes with a series of recommendations for improving interpersonal communication in order to prevent medical errors. Recommended strategies include the following:

1. Slow down, speak slowly and spend a small amount of additional time with each patient
2. Use plain, nonmedical language. Explain things as you would to your own grandmother.
3. Show or draw pictures to help your patient understand and remember.
4. Limit the amount of information provided, and repeat it.
5. Use the "teach-back" technique to confirm that the patient understands.
6. Create a shame-free environment by encouraging questions.

About Professional Development Resources, Inc.

Professional Development Resources is a Florida nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1992 by licensed marriage and family therapist Leo Christie, PhD. The company, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) - as well as many other national and state boards - has focused its efforts on making accredited continuing education units more cost-effective and widely accessible to health professionals by offering online home study coursework. Its current expanded curriculum includes a wide variety of clinical topics intended to equip health professionals to offer state-of-the art services to their clients.

Contact:
Leo Christie, PhD, CEO
Professional Development Resources, Inc.
904-645-3456
http://www.pdresources.org/