Patient Safety Resources
The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation and AMA are exploring the link between health literacy and patient safety. Our goal is to create safer and shame-free health care environments for patients with limited health literacy, and by extension, to all patients.
Working toward that goal, we have two resources for providers to help them minimize communication-related adverse events - patient safety monograph and patient safety tip cards.
Reducing the risk by designing a safer, shame-free health care environment is a 68-page monograph that offers new supporting research, explores how ineffective communication and low health literacy combine to affect patient safety, provides tools to decrease communication-related adverse events at a systemwide level, and helps physicians initiate changes toward a safer and shame-free practice environment. As a bonus, one Safe Communication Universal Precautions tip card is included in the hard copy which can serve as a take-away reminder of the tips featured within the monograph. Also included is Continuing Medical Education credit* for physicians. Reducing the risk by designing a safer, shame-free health care environment can be downloaded online (PDF). Hard copies of the monograph can be purchased for $15 through the AMA Bookstore or by calling (800) 621-8335 and asking for Item #OP424907.
The Safe Communication Universal Precautions tip card is a laminated, pocket-sized card containing practical tips for providers on how to minimize communication-related adverse events. Root cause analysis finds more than 80% of medical errors are due to communication breakdowns. These communication breakdowns can occur not only between providers and patients, but also between all staff. This tip card can serve as a quick reminder on how to streamline precise and complete communication among staff members. Safe Communication Universal Precautions tip cards can be purchased in packets of 25 for $15 through the AMA Bookstore or by calling (800) 621-8335 and asking for Item #OP424806.
Both resources are supported in part by an educational grant from Pfizer Inc.
Lastly, the AMA Foundation is proud to help sponsor the AMA Ethical Force Program's patient-centered communication initiatives.
*Continuing Medical Education
Please note the following new instructions for claiming credit effective May 2009. Physicians may earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by reading the patient safety monograph, Reducing the risk by designing a safer, shame-free health care environment. The estimated time to complete the activity is 2.5 hours. Physicians must then complete the CME questionnaire (including both the evaluation and the post-test) provided at the back of this manual and submit it via mail or fax to:
American Medical Association Foundation
Attn: Health Literacy
515 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60654
Fax: (312) 464-4142
All submissions must be signed and dated.
A certificate documenting your participation in the CME activity will be forwarded to you upon successful achievement of a score of at least 77% (10 out of 13 questions correct).
Original release date: August 2007
Date of most recent activity review: April 2009
Activity expiration date: May 2012
Disclosures for Content Reviewers
Sonja Boone, MD, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.: Nothing to disclose
Daniel Winship, MD, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.: Nothing to disclose
Matthew Wynia, MD, MPH, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.: Nothing to disclose
Accreditation Statement
The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Designation Statement
The AMA designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Download a copy of these new CME instructions (PDF).