Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy, the leader in teaching the public how to get safer medical care, last week completed delivery of its Family-Centered Patient Advocacy course — two days of intensive training in keeping patients safer as they navigate the healthcare system — in Plainview, NY.
Participants from as far afield as Nebraska and Florida — some professional advocates, some simply individuals wanting to help their families — learned principles and techniques ranging from improving communication, to avoiding bias, to learning “who’s who in health care.”
The coursework was supplemented by presentations from three speakers, Dr. Kristen Miller, Helen Haskell and Caryn Isaacs, all national leaders in the patient safety movement.
Participants’ comments included, “The stories and lived experiences were inspirational. Many turn tragedies into triumph” and, “The event was full of information I can bring to my clients.”
Stories are important to the organizer, Pulse president Ilene Corina, BCPA. “Sharing real-life stories is one of the most powerful ways we can help each other avoid medical error,” she says. “We don’t tell people what they should do, but we invite them to tell us what worked for them.”
The training was made possible by the generous support of donors such as Greater National Advocates (GNANow.org) and Helen Haskell of Mothers Against Medical Error.
Pulse offers a wide variety of programs and resources for anyone interested in safer health care. Visit https://pulsecenterforpatientsafety.org to learn more and become a member.
Pulse Center for Patient Safety Education & Advocacy is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization working to improve patient safety through advocacy education and support services.