Program Evaluation of Patient Safety and Risk Mitigation Educational Interventions for Medical Errors in Primary Care Settings

• Main Author: Gould, Patricia Rose
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Nursing
• ISBN: 9781369804737; 1369804733

The Institute of Medicine reported in 2016 that medical errors are the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States. In the primary care setting, frequency and severity are unknown. Medical error research is limited related to evaluation of interventions conducted by medical professional liability (MPL) companies of risk mitigation strategies. The purpose of this program evaluation was to determine the impact of multifaceted patient safety and risk mitigation educational interventions conducted in primary care settings on patient safety, reporting, and liability. The program evaluation employed a retrospective secondary analysis of actuarial data from a MPL carrier’s educational interventions of 10 randomly selected Midwestern primary care clinics. Actuarial data consisted of nonparametric testing of categorical data to examine means and averages on previously conducted assessments, questionnaire responses, occurrence reports, and claims frequency. Outcome analysis of actuarial data revealed that the study population meet assessment criteria. Further actuarial analysis suggested that actual medical error occurrence reporting was inconsistent. Retrospective analysis of questionnaire responses demonstrated that despite educational interventions, more research is warranted to examine medical error understanding, language, and prevention in the primary care setting. Outcome evaluation conclusions suggest that healthcare providers are in a pivotal position to engage in proactive strategies in the primary care settings to mitigate risk; improve patient safety; and increase overall individual, organizational, and community understanding of medical error prevention. Unrecognized medical errors create a burden on society. Risk mitigation strategies of medical errors promote positive social change through improved community health.