Prevention of Medical Errors

Course overview

The identification and prevention of medical errors requires the participation of all members of the health team, including patients. The traditional way of coping with medical errors was to assume errors were the result of individual mistakes such as carelessness and inattention, creating a culture of blame. However, it has become clear this approach is not optimal. It does not address the root causes of medical errors or systemic problems. It discourages disclosure of errors, and without disclosure, errors cannot be reduced. Enhancing health team knowledge and the environment of care will help to reduce the risk of a medical error and promote patient safety. No Test Required!