Loss Lessons: Practicing Out of Bounds
Description
Unlicensed staff are vital to efficient patient flow in medical practice. Healthcare organizations have many tasks that are safely and effectively carried out by skilled unlicensed support staff every day. To reach such efficiencies with safety and reliability, careful attention must be given to scope of practice and state and local statutes regarding delegation and supervision. Policies and protocols that outline the scope of practice for unlicensed staff to follow independently, and when they must consult with licensed staff, help even the most talented of your staff understand their boundaries. This case illustrates how informal verbal guidelines can blur the lines and cause well-meaning staff to cross the boundary lines of their scope leading to misdiagnosis and death.
| Course ID #: | TDE 231299.0 | Issue Date: | 6/7/2023 | Expiration Date: | 6/7/2026 |
Description of the Professional Practice Gap (PPG)
Healthcare providers MD & APCs often don't appreciate the risk of not having written protocols that guide telephone triage, communication, and advice. Protocols may be in- formal "customs" that fail to define the scope of practice and specific actions for the unlicensed staff. When this occurs, there is the potential for unlicensed staff to make judgements beyond their knowledge and skills. In such an environment unlicensed staff may lack the insight that comes from personal reflection that errors can occur because of the information they provide and their independent decisions. This case study shows an example of this risk leading to litigation.
Learning Outcome
80 percent of learners will indicate their intention to review their office policies and protocols related to telephone calls including triage to ensure they are within the scope of practice for their staff because of this program.
Learning Objectives
After completing this activity, learners will be able to:
- Review written policies and protocols for unlicensed staff to define the scope of practice related to telephone triage of messages and follow-up.
- Educate unlicensed staff regarding boundaries for telephone triage as defined by state and regulatory statutes and internal policies and protocols.
Course Developers
Kimberly Hathaway, MSN, RN, CPHRM, CPHQ, Director Patient Safety Healthcare Quality & Risk Management, The Doctors Company
Eric Cleckler, MSN, RN, Patient Safety Risk Manager, Department of Patient Safety Risk Management, The Doctors Company.
Johanna Lackner, MPH, MSW, Senior Director, Continuing Professional Development, Department of Patient Safety and Risk Management, The Doctors Company
Continuing Education Credit
The Doctors Company is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical educational activities for physicians.The Doctors Company designates this activity for a maximum of 0.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
No individual in a position to control or influence the content of this activity has reported relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. No commercial support was provided for this activity.
ANCC - Accreditation and Disclosure Statement
The Doctors Company is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.The Doctors Company designates this activity for a maximum of 0.25 nursing contact hour. Learners should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
No individual in a position to control or influence the content of this activity has reported relevant financial relationships with commercial interests. No commercial support was provided for this activity.
Disclaimer
This program is being offered for informational and educational purposes only from a Patient Safety Risk Management perspective and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary from state to state, actual clinical situations often involve subtle differences and nuances from program scenarios or recommendations, and the recommendations provided in this activity may not apply to all practice situations. In complex circumstances, which present significant potential for an adverse event or litigation, TDC and the faculty recommend you consult directly with your corporate or personal counsel for professional legal guidance.
Complies with State Requirements
Please SEE the Federation of State Medical Boards overview of Continuing Medical Education requirements by State.
Please SEE the Registered Nurse and Licensed Practical Nurse CE Requirements by State.
Technical Requirements
The activity is best experienced using the most current browser: Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Microsoft Edge. Internet Explorer is not supported on this platform. All activities featuring audio must have a speaker. To view graphic images and references that appear in separate "pop-up" windows, JavaScript and session cookies must be enabled on your computer. Adobe Acrobat Reader may be required for certain activities.
Contact Us
If you have questions, contact educationsupport@thedoctors.com or call 800.421.2368.
Resource
Visit our Resource document for this program.