Two films that underscore the importance of strong communication and attention to detail in patient care were part of a full week of events that promoted healthcare safety and quality.
The events, which also included guest speakers, a trivia night and a “patient room of horrors,” comprised the Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety week and were organized by the CU Anschutz Medical Campus chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
“This is the first time we did a Patient Safety week,” said Nazanin Kalani, a second-year student in the CU School of Medicine (SOM) and chapter member. IHI is an inter-professional group that includes students from CU’s SOM, School of Dental Medicine, College of Nursing and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. “We thought about holding one great event, but then we thought it would be more powerful to have a concentrated week to really focus on patient safety and quality healthcare.”
Kaitlyn Todd, left, a CU Anschutz student, and a healthcare professional from Children's Hospital Colorado, set up a patient simulator in the "patient room of horrors" as part of Patient Safety week.
‘Powerful story’
The week got off to a strong start as the group screened “The Story of Michael Skolnik,” the tragic account of a young Colorado man who had a seizure and was diagnosed as having a benign mass in his brain. It turned out the surgery was unnecessary and ultimately led to his death 32 months later at age 25. His mother, Patty Skolnik, who founded Citizens for Patient Safety, attended the lunch lecture and spoke to the crowd after the screening.
The film focuses on the critical need for shared decision-making and informed consent, Kalani said. “It’s hard to watch because you know that so many things could have been different (for Michael) and should have been different,” she said. “It started our week off with a powerful story – it really set the tone for why it’s important to focus on patient safety.”
That important message was reinforced over the next three days – during a Journal Club discussion led by Jackie Glover, PhD, on effective clinical practice, trivia night, and another film screening. “The Story of Lewis Blackman” conveyed a similar message about medical errors and patient safety.
Nazanin Kalani, a second-year student in the CU School of Medicine, sets up a patient simulator in the "patient room of horrors" at Children's Hospital Colorado. The room was part of Patient Safety week at CU Anschutz, Oct. 26-30.
‘Patient room of horrors’
The club chapter capped the week on Halloween Eve with a “patient room of horrors” in a hospital simulation room located in the basement of Children’s Hospital Colorado. The Children’s Hospital staff and IHI set the room up with 20 errors – including latex gloves (a door posting said the patient was allergic to latex), no guard rails on the beds, a bloody towel on the floor and a faded emergency map – and participants were instructed to catalogue as many errors as they could find in five minutes.
Kalani said 17 students tested their observation skills in the room. “Everyone had a really great time,” she said. “There were a lot of small things that were brought to their attention, and I think that really surprised them.”
Thanks to IHI’s success with its inaugural Quality Healthcare and Patient Safety week, expect a series of enlightening and fun events on this serious subject to become an annual event at CU Anschutz.
PHOTO AT TOP OF PAGE: Members of the CU Anschutz IHI chapter invited Patty Skolnik (red shirt) to speak as part of Patient Safety week. Students pictured, from left, are Daniel Hadidi, Cindy Ha, Kaitlyn Todd and Nazanin Kalani.