PULSE of NY Held First Long Island Patient Safety Advocate Training

November 15, 2010

PULSE of NY Held First Long Island Patient Safety Advocate Training
LAKE SUCCESS, NY – PULSE of NY held its first Long Island Patient Safety Advocate Training last week at the North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI) and its Patient Safety Institute in Lake Success, attracting 22 community-minded individuals from as far away as Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

The full-day training was taught by PULSE board members Charles Cal, RN, MBA, who is also the Vice President of PULSE of NY and director of program evaluation at the North Shore-LIJ Krasnoff Quality Management Institute, and Leslie Farrington, MD, a gynecologist based on Long Island. In the first part of the program, the group learned about patient safety and hospital policy. It was followed by a discussion about critical communication skills presented by Ilene Corina, President of PULSE of NY and Dr.Farrington. This interactive session taught essential communication skills and empathy.

During the second half of the training, volunteers were introduced to CLI’s Patient Safety Institute, which houses high-tech simulation labs resembling hospital rooms and feature life-like computerized mannequins that respond like actual patients. The facility – one of the largest of its kind in the country -- is used to train doctors, nurses, medical students and other healthcare professionals to hone their clinical skills to prevent medical errors. The Patient Safety Institute is also used to train emergency medical technicians and community groups.

Using the simulation lab, participants had an opportunity to interact with clinicians and practice their communications skills, for instance, when a doctor or nurse didn’t wash their hands, appropriately answer their questions or follow hospital policy on consent for surgery. The training was videotaped and the rest of the group watched from a nearby classroom on a large screen as the situations unfolded. After the scenario, participants joined the group for a debriefing.

“We address the needs of the entire family in our training” explained Ms. Corina. “By using the simulators and the actors, participants are emotionally engaged in the process and learning is enhanced. The hands-on aspect definitely makes a huge impact as opposed to just talking about patient safety.”

Participants received certificates of completion and many will continue their training with PULSE of NY through conference calls or the internet.

For three years, PULSE of NY has brought together a team of community members, physicians, pharmacists, nurses and risk managers who developed the Patient Safety Advocate Training and taught the program in the community. Another Patient Safety Advocate Training is planned for the Spring of 2011.

To learn more, visit http://www.pulseofny.org/ or call (516) 579-4711.