Safety competency framework to integrate education and patient safety
Framework will ‘change the future of medical education’
Tuesday October 14, 2008 -- Jason Thompson
The Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons have partnered to develop a framework of inter-professional patient safety competencies.

The goal of the framework is to incorporate patient safety practices into the education of healthcare professionals in Canada.

"What we have produced together will change the future of medical education. By planting the seeds of patient safety early in a physician's career, we can make our health care system safer for patients,'' Dr. Andrew Padmos, CEO of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, said in a news release.

According to CPSI, the complexity of the health system and the diversity of the healthcare workforce means the timing is right for a framework to advance patient safety education curricula, continuing professional development and ultimately better patient care.

"We saw a need for a comprehensive, widely accepted patient safety competencies framework that could be incorporated into educational programs and professional development activities for all health professionals in Canada," said CPSI CEO Phil Hassen.

"We know this will be an important contribution towards achieving a safer health care system for Canadians."

Dr. Bob Byrick a member of CPSI’s education and professional development advisory committee, which led the development of the framework along with an inter-professional team of educators co-chaired by expert physicians from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, spoke about the framework in July at The Michener Institute’s community forum on patient safety and learning from adverse events.

A major problem with the system is that healthcare providers are educated in their separate disciplines, yet are expected to work as a team once on the job, Byrick says, noting this isn’t always an easy transition and one that could compromise patient safety.

He says the framework will address problems related to human factors in the workforce, critical thinking and decision-making, team function as well as healthcare provider well being and professional competence.

Click here for more information on the competency framework.

If you have feedback on this article, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051 or e-mail jason(at)axiomnews.ca.