Addressing Medical Errors

  Speech Scenario You are a chief quality officer (CQO) at a hospital. You have a working group made up of hospital leadership that have been tasked with implementing a special quality project focused on medical errors. You are working with this group to launch the concept and educate the clinicians. Prepare a speech that will be delivered to clinicians and other internal stakeholders during a morning rounds. • Number one priority, over the next five years, is to significantly decrease the number of preventable medical errors that occur in the hospital. In essence, attempting to inspire the audience to commit to the cause and do what it takes to achieve the goal. Having said that, the tone must be appropriate for your audience and the topic itself which can be highly controversial. • You will need to conduct research on medical errors for your speech. Focus on at least two types of medical error (medication, falls, wrong site surgery, hospital acquired infections, sepsis etc.). • Speech must include a strategic approach that is based upon best practices. Describe how you will operationalize the approach within the hospital. Identify a framework (benchmarks, timelines, measurement tools, etc.). • What role did ethics and professional accountability play in your decision to tackle preventable medical errors? • What strategy will you use to achieve change? What tools will you use to operationalize your plan? • How can your audience of clinicians actively support your vision? • How can you inspire others to follow your vision; or, will you mandate compliance? • How will you measure success? • KEY: How will you address the relevant competencies? Consider: o Leadership: In your role play as a CQO of a hospital, create a strategic plan that reflects best practices and focus on physician organization alignment to successfully attain the goals. o Personal and Professional Accountability: Advocate for acting in accordance with professional and ethical norms; and, explain how personal accountability plays a role in being committed to decreasing medical errors. o Professional and Business Ethics: Demonstrate high standards of personal and professional responsibility and accountability through your communication style.