Patient safety is a critical pillar of high-quality healthcare delivery. In this 1-hour CME/CE webinar, Patient Safety and the Medical Practice focuses specifically on the prevention of a high-risk subset of medical errors known as Serious Reportable Events (SREs), often referred to as “Never Events.” These are incidents that should never occur in a well-functioning healthcare environment, including events such as wrong-site surgery, patient falls, and medication errors.

The course provides healthcare professionals with a deeper understanding of the definition, categories, root causes, and real-world implications of Never Events. Participants will examine why these errors occur, what systemic failures often contribute to them, and the potential ramifications for medical practices and patient trust. This webinar supports learners in building a stronger safety culture, developing prevention strategies, and reducing legal and clinical risks.

This course fulfills state-mandated credit requirements in Risk Management, Medical Error Prevention, and Patient Safety for physicians, physician assistants, and nurses in states including Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts.

Educational Objectives

Identify and differentiate three types of Serious Reportable Events or 'Never Events.'
Verbalize at least one root cause of a Never Event in the clinical setting.
Recall two major ramifications of a Never Event that could affect clinical practice or licensure.

Who Should Take This Course

This course is ideal for:

Physicians in Florida, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts who need CME credit in patient safety or risk management.
Physician Assistants in Florida seeking training in medical error prevention.
Nurses in Florida and Connecticut who are looking to fulfill their CE obligations for risk management and patient safety.
Any healthcare professional seeking to minimize preventable errors and enhance the quality of care in their clinical practice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What are 'Never Events' and why are they significant?
A: 'Never Events' are serious medical errors that are largely preventable and should never happen. They often result in severe patient harm and carry legal and professional consequences.

Q: Does this course satisfy state-mandated CE requirements?
A: Yes. It meets patient safety, medical error, and risk management CE requirements in multiple states for physicians, PAs, and nurses.

Q: How long is this course, and is it available on demand?
A: This webinar is 1 hour in duration and can be accessed at any time within one year from the purchase date.

Q: What is one actionable takeaway from this course?
A: Participants will gain tools to identify and mitigate system failures that contribute to Serious Reportable Events.

Did You Know?

The National Quality Forum lists 29 Serious Reportable Events that are categorized under surgical, product/device, patient protection, care management, environmental, radiologic, and criminal events.
Studies suggest that 'Never Events' occur in approximately 1 out of every 112,000 surgical procedures. [AHRQ, 2021]
Hospitals may face financial penalties from CMS for failing to prevent Never Events, which are considered non-reimbursable.
Root causes of Never Events often include communication failures, inadequate training, and a lack of standardized procedures.
Creating a culture of safety and implementing team-based care models significantly reduces the likelihood of these events. [The Joint Commission]