PSEP is collaborating with RAND on an AHRQ funded project the goal of which is to Refine, Develop, and Conduct Formative Evaluation of High-Impact Training Modules for Front-line Nursing Home Personnel to Improve Patient Safety. The project is designed to strengthen knowledge of patient safety practices that will be effective in nursing home settings, develop an educational curriculum to support implementation of those practices, and refine the curriculum so it can be easily used by front line NH providers to enhance the safety of NH patients. Debora Simmons, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, was quoted in an August 20 article in the New York Times.  The article explores the lax federal oversight of medical devices such as feeding tubes. In the article, Debora discusses the lack of regulatory action related to patient safety errors such as improper tube connections. The article can be found here.

“Outstanding! Broad in scope; deep in content.” This is just one of the many positive comments made by participants when the Patient Safety Education Project (PSEP) recently held its two and a half-day inaugural ‘Become a PSEP Safety Trainer’ event in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from May 30-June 1, 2008. This event was funded by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative. Doctors, nurses and other health care professionals from the US, Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia attended. Attendees learned about human factors design, systems thinking, teamwork, and patient engagement from leading patient safety and medical education experts. They also received hands-on experience in implementing clinical practice improvement methods. Debora Simmons, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS has been appointed Associate Director of the Patient Safety Education Project (PSEP). Ms. Simmons is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in critical and acute care with an extensive background in technology and complex patient care systems. She most recently was Associate Director and an investigator for the Institute of Healthcare Excellence at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and a member of the University Of Texas Center Of Excellence for Patient Safety Research and Practice. She is also a founding advisor and board member of Consumers Advancing Patient Safety, a partnering safety coalition of consumers helping healthcare advance a safety culture through alliances with the healthcare industry and World Health Organization, a member of the United States Pharmacopeia Safe Medications Use Committee, which sets standards for pharmaceutical products, and a recipient of the ISMP Cheers Award for her dedication to facilitating education and information sharing on medication error prevention issues. She is currently finishing her doctoral degree at Texas Woman's University. The entire PSEP team is happy to have her expertise and experience in this new leadership role and expects wonderful things from her. Minimize